Saab 340 AEW&C

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.

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 (AESA) 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 (ASC 890) 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 :(FSR-890) Erieye, for the Thai Air Force. ;Saab 340B AEW-200 :(IS-340) Erieye ;Saab 340B AEW-300 / S 100D Argus :(ASC-890) Erieye ;B.K.1 :() Royal Thai Armed Forces designation for the Saab 340 AEW&C.

Operators

;Current ;

• Swedish Air Force operates two aircraft (2 S100D / ASC890). SAAB GlobalEye was ordered as replacements in June 2022. ;
• Royal Thai Air Force operates two aircraft delivered completely in October 2012. ;
• Polish Air Force – Purchased two used (ex-UAE) Saab 340 AEW early warning and control aircraft in July 2023, with deliveries planned to start in 2024. The first plane was delivered in March 2024. The second aircraft was delivered in June 2024. ;
• Ukraine was assigned 2 ASC 890 (S100D) from Sweden as part of the 16th support package. In June 2025 one of them reportedly participated in the first ever shooting down of a Russian Su-35 by F-16.

;Former operators ;

• Hellenic Air Force formerly loaned two aircraft. ;
• United Arab Emirates Air Force – 2 operated. Retired in 2020 after replacement by GlobalEye (Bombardier 6000).

Saab 2000 AEW&C operators

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

• Pakistan Air Force operates 9 aircraft. ;
• Royal Saudi Air Force operates 2 aircraft.

Specifications (Saab 340 AEW&C)

|prime units? = met

References

References

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2. "Flygplan S 100 B". forsvarsmakten.se.
3. (April 21, 2025). "Ukraine Receives First Swedish Saab 340 AEW&C 'Flying Radar'".
4. Zorro, Mario H.. (2018-05-01). "Saab 340 AEWC".
5. (29 May 2024). "Sweden announces $1.3 billion in military aid for Ukraine in largest package ever".
6. (29 May 2024). "Military support package 16 to Ukraine, Ministry of Defense".
7. (16 May 2025). "On-camera confession: Pakistan's ex-air marshal admits AWACS damaged in Operation Sindoor". The Times of India.
8. G, C.. (2025-05-28). "Four Days in May: The India-Pakistan Crisis of 2025 • Stimson Center".
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11. "FMV beställer två GlobalEye till Försvarsmakten".
12. [http://www.gripen.com/en/MediaRelations/News/2008/080211_th_signing.htm Gripen International] {{Webarchive. link. (2010-02-04 Gripen agreement between Sweden and Thailand signed.)
13. "Thailand Buying JAS-39 Gripens, AWACS".
14. "Gripeny operacyjne w Tajlandii – Altair Agencja Lotnicza".
15. [https://www.saab.com/newsroom/press-releases/2023/saab-receives-order-for-airborne-early-warning-aircraft-from-poland saab.com] {{Webarchive. link. (2023-07-26 – ''Saab receives order for airborne early warning aircraft from Poland'' (25 July 2023))
16. "Poland signs for Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft".
17. (6 March 2024). "Pierwszy Saab 340 z radarem Erieye już w Polsce".
18. (2024-06-12). "Poland receives second Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft from Sweden".
19. Regeringskansliet, Regeringen och. (2024-05-29). "Militärt stödpaket 16 till Ukraina – ny förmåga som stärker Ukrainas luftförsvar och stöd som möter Ukrainas prioriterade behov".
20. (2025-06-09). "Ukraine's F-16 Took Down Russian Fighter Jet in 'Historic First': Report - Newsweek".
21. "S100B Argus Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) Aircraft".
22. "Saab signs contract with United Arab Emirates for airborne surveillance system".
23. Allport, Dave. (February 2021). "Saab AEW&C aircraft return to Sweden".
24. "Aerial Eyes: Pakistans New AWACS Fleets".
25. (16 April 2019). "Pakistan Air Force receives AEW&C radar equipment from Saab".
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27. Försvarsmakten. "S 100 D".