Poland orders SAAB Airborne Early Warning & Control aircraft
Poland's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has now officially confirmed to acquire two Saab 340 Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft. The contract is valued at SEK 600 million (USD 58 million) and includes besides the aircraft also ground equipment and in-country logistics and support services. Delivery of the aircraft is planned for 2023-2025.
Both aircraft are former United Arab Emirates Air Force AEW&C platforms that were obtained from the Flygvapnet (Swedish Air Force) in 2010 and delivered in 2011 as an interim platform before delivery of the Saab GlobalEye, based on the Global 6000 and Global 6500 airframes. The two Saab 340s, c/n 340B-409 (ex UAE AF 1332 and Swedish Air Force 100005) and c/n 340B-431 (ex UAE AF 1331 and Swedish Air Force 100006), returned to Sweden in December 2020.
At the Defence24 Day conference, held on 24 and 25 May 2023 in Warsaw (Poland), the Polish Armed Forces showed several slides, including a timeline outlining their plans for the coming years. The total wish list, including the two Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft, for the Polish armed forces is large.
The purchase of the AEW&C aircraft is part of a broader effort by Poland to increase its surveillance capabilities and bolster its air defence. The need for their own AEW&C capability is high and it is possible that the Saab 340s are an interim solution. A contract for the Global 6000/6500 GlobalEye could well be considered as a future replacement.
Photo by Saab Aerospace