“GlobalEye is the Best Solution for Countries that Need AEW&C Capabilities”

Qatar is an important market for Swedish company Saab, which is showcasing key products such as its GlobalEye AEW&C solution, Giraffe 1X and Coast Control Radar at the ongoing DIMDEX.

“Our solutions contribute significantly to strategic national security priorities, and these will be very much part of our discussions at the show,” Carl-Johan Bergholm, Head of Saab’s business area Surveillance, told GBP Daily News in an exclusive interview.

Saab has offered the GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft to both Qatar and Saudi Arabia. What makes it stand out from the competition?

GlobalEye is the most modern and advanced Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) solution available on the market. It combines modern active and passive sensors to detect and identify objects in the air, at sea, and over land at long ranges. It provides a clear and de-cluttered joint situational picture which ensures unparalleled operational flexibility.

GlobalEye is already in production and in operation and has proven its superiority. Its instrumented range is well above 350NM (650 km) and the latest Erieye ER radar range performance is increased by about 70% compared to the previous version. GlobalEye offers unmatched performance compared to legacy platforms.

Saab has a proven track record in AEW&C evolution and with GlobalEye in production, we can offer a very attractive delivery time depending on the configuration requested by the customer. With over 30 years of experience, including pioneering achievements, we continue to invest in R&D that will secure production capability and the continuity of GlobalEye's technology development for decades.

We believe GlobalEye makes the best solution for many countries that need AEW&C capabilities such as long-range detection and identification of objects in the air, at sea and over land. Due to the sensitive nature of our industry, we will not comment on specific activities.

Saab's proven track record, the superior capabilities of GlobalEye, and our commitment to continuous development make us highly competitive in the market. However, the final decision depends on various factors, including the specific needs and priorities of the potential customer.

A major feature of Saab’s local partnerships in different regions is technology transfer and industrial cooperation. How will working with the company help the Qatari domestic defence industry?

Partnerships are crucial to Saab's strategy in all markets. Over the past year, there has been an increase in government-to-government visits between Sweden and Qatar. This strengthened relationship presents economic opportunities, particularly in our sector. Our current approach involves working with Qatar's defence and security authorities, as well as local industry, to establish impactful and collaborative cooperation. This aligns with Qatar's economic diversification goals outlined in National Vision 2030.

What are some of the major systems and capabilities that Saab will be highlighting at DIMDEX 2026?

GlobalEye will be a key focus. GlobalEye operates as a strategic national asset in peace, crisis and conflict, bringing ground-breaking capabilities that provide simultaneous air, maritime and ground surveillance in one single solution, enabling real-time information exchange and data fusion across domains.

We are also highlighting our advanced Giraffe 1X radar - a multifunctional, multi-mission radar system that creates time to act through simultaneous capabilities including air surveillance, ground-based air defence, and drone detection.

For maritime applications, we're featuring our Coast Control Radar, a software-driven, phased-array solution designed specifically for coastal surveillance. This discreetly designed system provides heightened situational awareness needed to protect coastlines and territorial waters.

What do you hope to achieve from the event?

DIMDEX 2026 presents an invaluable opportunity for us to engage with existing and potential Qatari customers, as well as customers from across the broader region.

Qatar is an important market for Saab, and given our role as a long-term contributor to supporting regional security and safety through our solutions, being at DIMDEX is a natural fit. Our solutions contribute significantly to strategic national security priorities, and these will be very much part of our discussions at the show.

We're also excited to engage and discuss with industry partners. Our commitment to Qatar is built on a foundation of over a decade of excellence and innovation, and we see DIMDEX as an opportunity to strengthen these relationships and explore new avenues for collaboration that support Qatar's defence priorities and capabilities.

Technological advances in AI are revolutionising the defence industry. How is Saab leveraging AI?

Saab is forward leaning in how we apply AI across the value chain as a core enabler of operational advantage. We use AI internally to increase speed and quality in engineering and decision-making, we use it to accelerate development cycles, and we embed it directly into the systems we deliver to our customers.

Within our families of sensor systems, turning vast amounts of sensor data into a coherent, relevant operational picture is vital to that operational advantage. By automating detection, correlation and prioritisation, we are working with AI tools to enable operators to act faster and with greater confidence in highly contested environments where human-only processing would be insufficient.

Our approach is deliberately ambitious, but also disciplined. We deploy AI where it creates clear operational value, while ensuring systems remain robust, predictable and trustworthy. At the same time, we are explicit about applying AI in a manner that is consistent with ethical principles and legal parameters. AI is designed to strengthen human decision-making and mission effectiveness, and where autonomous functions are introduced — for example in maritime or other distributed systems — they are implemented with clear boundaries, appropriate human command and control, and accountability. This allows us to move fast, remain competitive, and apply AI responsibly where it matters most.

Which region, in your opinion, offers Saab the most potential for growth?

We are at an unprecedented time for growth across the globe. Governments worldwide are taking a hard look at their defensive posture and capabilities in light of evolving security challenges.

As a Swedish company, Sweden is naturally our home and biggest market, and we are expanding significantly in Europe in response to changing security dynamics. However, Saab has operations in over 30 countries spanning the Americas, Asia, the Middle East, and beyond.

Rather than focusing on a single region, we will continue to work closely with our customers and partners in all these regions to contribute to their specific defence and security priorities. Each market has unique requirements and opportunities, and our approach is to remain committed to supporting the diverse needs of all the nations we serve.

The Middle East, including Qatar, is certainly a region where we foresee growing and sustainable business for years to come, driven by the demand for our wide-ranging portfolio of advanced defence and security solutions.

Can you briefly outline plans to enhance Saab’s Middle East footprint?

Saab serves the global market, including the Middle East, with world-leading products, services and solutions from military defence to the civil security market. Saab has been a trusted partner to our valued Middle Eastern customers with a proven track record spanning decades.

We welcome the opportunity to build on existing partnerships we have in the region and further support our customers. Driven by growing demand for our wide-ranging offering, Saab is committed to strengthening its partnerships across the Middle East, working closely with both government and industry alike.