Poland Orders Two Saab 340 Airborne Early Warning Aircraft
Saab and the government of Poland announced on July 25 that an agreement had been signed for the purchase of two Saab 340 airborne early warning aircraft to be operated by the Polish Air Force.
The purchase of the two 340s, equipped with Saab’s Erieye radars, is valued at SEK 600 million ($57.8 million), inclusive of the price of ground equipment as well as in-country logistics and support services for the aircraft. Saab states that the contract period is between 2023 and 2025, but did not provide additional details on delivery dates.
In a tweet announcing the signing of the deal, Polish Deputy Prime Minister Mariusz Błaszczak said that the purchase would strengthen NATO’s eastern flank and make Polish airspace safer.
“Saab has had a strong relationship with the Polish Ministry of National Defence for many years. We are proud to further strengthen Poland’s Armed Forces with our airborne early warning and network-based solutions”, said Carl-Johan Bergholm, head of Saab’s Surveillance division.
Warsaw revealed its intent to procure 340s as an urgent operational requirement in late May. At the time, Defence24 reported that the 340s are likely to be existing aircraft that will be delivered after refurbishment and upgrades.
A likely candidate would be the two 340 AEWs formerly operated by the United Arab Emirates. These two 340s were returned to Saab in December 2020 after their retirement and replacement with Saab GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft, which use the Erieye-Extended Range version of the radar on a Bombardier 6000 business jet for better system performance and endurance.
Poland currently relies on NATO’s shared fleet of E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft for airborne early warning. Acquisition of the 340 AEWs would provide a Polish-operated airborne early warning capability that complements the ongoing modernization of the Polish Air Force’s tactical aviation fleet, with orders of F-35s and Korea Aerospace Industries FA-50s to eventually replace Warsaw’s remaining fleet of Soviet-era fighters and ground attack aircraft.