US Navy Orders Another AN/SPN-50 Air Traffic Control Radar From Saab for Carriers
The US Navy has ordered one AN/SPN-50(V)1 shipboard air traffic control radar from Saab, worth $14.3 million, for use on aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships.
What the Order Covers
According to reports, the Navy exercised an option on its existing contract with Saab to buy one more radar. The contract is managed by Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) at Patuxent River, Maryland. The work will be done at Saab’s facility in East Syracuse, New York, and completed by June 2028. The full amount comes from fiscal 2027 Navy procurement funds, and the option was awarded on a sole-source basis.
What the AN/SPN-50 Does
The AN/SPN-50(V)1 is the US version of Saab’s Sea Giraffe radar family. It replaces the older AN/SPN-43C on Nimitz-class carriers and large-deck amphibious assault ships. Air traffic controllers use it to identify, marshal and direct aircraft within about 50 nautical miles (roughly 93 km) of the ship. In effect, it is the eye of the ship’s air traffic “tower.”
Earlier Orders
Earlier awards included $47.5 million for three radars in December 2023, $41.7 million for three radars and repair kits in October 2025, and a $74.6 million modification for five radars announced in August 2026. The new $14.3 million option is the latest in that series.
