Saab Highlights Features of Swordfish Maritime Patrol Aircraft

Saab has said its Swordfish maritime patrol aircraft is designed to feature reduced size, weight and power requirements than large “airliner-type” MPAs.

The company said Monday Swordfish integrates Bombardier‘s Global 6000 long-range aircraft, General Dynamics‘ acoustics processor and Saab’s airborne surveillance systems.

Swordfish works to operate for approximately 13 hours and provide a payload capacity of up to six torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, more than 200 sonobuoys and a sensor suite.

Lars Tossman, head of airborne surveillance at Saab, said the company chose the Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft based on operational performance, costs and its ability to meet the requirements of maritime operations.

Tossman added that General Dynamics’ acoustics processor is intended to help Swordfish locate, track and identify all submarine types.

Swordfish is part of Saab’s family of advanced airborne systems that includes the GlobalEye multi-role and swing-role airborne early warning and control system.

GlobalEye is also based on Global 6000 and shares a common engineering base with Swordfish.