Saab 340 AEW&C


The Saab 340 AEW&C is a Swedish airborne [early warning and control] aircraft. A variant of the Saab 340 aircraft, it is designated S 100B Argus by the Swedish Air Force.

Radar

Compared to the traditional circular radar on AWACS planes, such as the E-3 Sentry, the Saab 340 has a non-movable PS-890 AESA radar made with the Erieye system. It offers lower drag, but has a dead zone directly behind and in front of the plane, with a 120 degree zone of scan on either side of the airframe. The mounted radar is capable of tracking ships, planes and missiles up to 190–250 mi, while at an altitude of.

Operational history

Six S 100B Argus aircraft were produced for the Swedish Air Force. Four are permanently equipped with the Erieye active electronically scanned array early warning radar. Two are fitted for transport missions during peacetime.
Two modified planes were loaned to Greece prior to the delivery of EMB-145 Erieye systems, which commenced in 2003.
In July 2006, Saab was awarded a contract to upgrade two of the Swedish Air Force's S 100B aircraft for surveillance missions, and for deployment in multi-national operations. The upgraded Saab 340 AEW-300 aircraft, entered service in 2009.
In November 2007, Thailand announced the intention to buy two S 100B AEW aircraft from the Swedish Air Force.
On May 29th, 2024, the Swedish Ministry of Defense announced that two Airborne Surveillance and Control aircraft will be sent to Ukraine, in the 16th military support package.
Saab 2000 Erieye AEW&C aircraft belonging to Pakistan Air Force were used during the 2025 India–Pakistan conflict. Following a BrahMos missile strike on PAF Base Bholari the Indian Air Force claimed to have destroyed a Saab 2000 AEW&C aircraft. This claim has been denied by Pakistani officials.

Variants

;Saab 340B AEW / S 100B Argus
;Saab 340B AEW-200
;Saab 340B AEW-300 / S 100D Argus
;B.K.1

Operators

;Current
;Former operators

Saab 2000 AEW&C operators

In December 1988, Saab decided to build a stretched derivative of its Saab 340, called Saab 2000.
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