Saab Aims to Push Giraffe 1X Radar Output Above 300 Units a Year

Saab aims to lift production of its Giraffe 1X counter-drone radar above 300 units annually. The company built 100 radars in the first half of 2026 and is now manufacturing ahead of contracts to shorten delivery times.

At a Glance

• Saab produced 100 Giraffe 1X radars in H1 2026; the target is more than 300 per year.
• CEO Mikael Johansson: reaching 300 radars a year “will get the huge scale effect.”
• Saab is producing proactively, without signed contracts, to cut delivery times and costs.
• In Ukraine the radar operates standalone and within the Tridon Mk2 gun system against Shahed-type drones.
• The X-band radar detects out to 75 km, weighs under 300 kg and fits on pickup-class platforms.

Building Ahead of Contracts

As reported by Defense Express, Saab has taken the unusual step of series-producing the Giraffe 1X without signed contracts, betting that ready stock, bulk component buys and shorter delivery times will win orders in a market transformed by the drone threat. The company built 100 radars in the first six months of 2026.

CEO Mikael Johansson argues that reaching 300 radars a year would deliver “the huge scale effect.” The Russia-Ukraine war and global rearmament have sharply raised demand for aerial threat detection across every market Saab serves.

Proven in Ukraine

Giraffe 1X radars are supplied to Ukraine’s Defense Forces both as standalone sensors and integrated into the Tridon Mk2 gun-based air defense system, primarily against Shahed-type one-way attack drones. The X-band radar offers up to 75 km of range, weighs under 300 kg, installs on light platforms such as pickup trucks and simultaneously detects drones, aircraft and mortar fire.

The system already serves with France, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Lithuania, Sweden and the United States.

Why It Matters

Cheap one-way attack drones have pushed radar demand to unprecedented levels. Saab’s decision to build without orders signals that the traditional contract-first model of the defense industry is bending under drone-age urgency.

Frequently Asked Questions

What distinguishes the Giraffe 1X?

Sub-300 kg weight, 75 km range and pickup-truck portability, combining drone, aircraft and mortar detection in one compact X-band sensor.

Sources

• Defense Express (10 August 2026) — Production figures, CEO remarks and the Ukrainian employment profile.