Defense Technology International - October 2007 - (Page 30) DISPATCHES GLOBAL PROPHETS OF WAR M that in 2037 its JAS 39 Gripen fighter will still be a frontline asset due to upgrades, even though its basic design will be 55 years old. According to UAV project manager Michael Franzen, Saab’s recently developed Skeldar vertical takeo and landing UAV will make its first flight from a naval platform next year. This will be folSaab links future of defense technology lowed by the Neuron UCAV (unmanned to protection of people and trade combat air vehicle) technology demonstrator in 2011. Neuron is being developed by a Dassault Aviation-led consorJORIS JANSSEN LOK•LINKOPING, SWEDEN tium, in which Saab plays a major role. ilitaries will increasingly be 5 billion tons worth $4 trillion. “Of this, Initial deployment of a European UCAV, charged with protecting the 95% passes through 10 chokepoints such operated by European forces and develglobal flow of people, capital, as the Strait of Hormuz or the Strait of oped by a European consortium, could energy and trade. The safety and reli- Malacca.” Disruptions in one or more ar- happen by 2022, Franzen says. ability of these flows are becoming more eas would have a major global economic “By 2014, we’ll see the first certificavital to an interconnected world’s well- impact, and more so in 2037. tion of a UAV for non-restricted flight in Saab envisions developing autono- civil airspace,” he predicts. “Two years being, say executives at Saab, Sweden’s mous underwater vehicles by 2037 that later, UAVs down to 1 meter (3.3 ft.) will aerospace and defense powerhouse. “The biggest threat is the catastroph- will be capable of “continuous patrols in be introduced in large numbers by civilic disruption of these flow ian operators.” systems due to terrorism, On land, Saab foresees organized crime or natural continued development disasters,” says President of radar into a generaland CEO Ake Svensson. purpose defense system “It’s no longer national borthat includes surveillance, ders that must be defended, electronic warfare and but the flows that are crucommunications, radar cial to our way of life.” engineer Bengt Isaksson Saab executives dissays. Radar will become a cussed the company’s out“highly flexible device that look for the future and how can be integrated in large numbers into high-perforit will meet emerging needs mance communications for protection at a seminar and sensing networks.” on Aug. 31, marking the Omnidirectional radar, firm’s 70th anniversary. featuring a “cylinderDan Jangblad, chief of shaped, non-rotating anstrategic business develop- Saab says its JAS 39 Gripen fighter, shown here in tenna with thousands of ment, says that by the time operation by Hungary, will still be going strong in simultaneous beams covof Saab’s centennial in 2037, 2037 due to upgrades. ering the hemisphere all the world will be shaped by such forces as urbanization, trade, un- key areas 24 hours a day, seven days a the time,” can provide simultaneous air predictable threats and the ability to ac- week, 365 days a year,” says Tossman. defense, threat warnings, communicacess information 24/7 everywhere. “Sensor systems will be deployed in ev- tions, weapon location and active-pasThe main technology driver will be ery port, o every power plant and in ev- sive surveillance, Isaksson claims. “We the need to develop early warnings of ery chokepoint. I am sure that all ports have the concept; we’re just waiting for man-made and natural threats, “espe- will have such underwater ‘fences’ to the technology and the funding to put cially if apocalyptic [environmental] check the undersides of ships for threats it together.” scenarios of massive flooding or severe or contraband, and to guard against coSaab sees a “great future” for multiwater shortages become reality.” static radar networks, in which one ravert intrusions.” Future-systems analyst Lars JernIn aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles dar transmits and the reflected energy backer says the answer to this need is will represent the leading edge of inno- is received by many passive radars. continued development of sensors and vation in coming years, says Lennart In urban or forested areas, large nummulti-sensor fusion. “We have to learn Sindahl, head of Saab Aerosystems. bers of coin-sized radars can be distributto combine di erent data to understand “We expect dramatic development in ed throughout the terrain and networked UAV sensors, shrinking their size and together in a multi-static configuration complex pictures.” One area that will benefit from great- increasing performance. I bet that by that solves the ambiguities caused by reer monitoring and protection is trade. 2037, passengers will fly across the At- flections from buildings or trees. I To illustrate the magnitude of this flow, lantic in airliners without pilots.” Read Janssen Lok’s posts on DTI’s Sensors and related technologies Lars Tossman, head of Saab Underwaweblog, Ares, updated daily: ter Systems, says that cargo shipped by will play a major role in upgrading air aresblog.net sea each year now amounts to more than platforms. For example, Saab believes DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL OCTOBER 2007 SAAB 30 www.aviationweek.com/dti http://aresblog.net http://www.aviationweek.com/dti
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