60 Systems in 60 Days: Saab's Remarkable Giraffe 1X Radar Delivery
The Giraffe 1X is a software-upgradable, compact multi-mission 3D radar designed to thrive in harsh conditions and operate from any platform. Despite its advanced capabilities, Saab successfully delivered 60 of these systems in just 60 days. But how is such a feat possible?
So far, every Giraffe 1X system produced based on forecasts has been sold. This speaks volumes about a product that has nearly tripled its production capacity in 2025 compared to the previous year. In fact, Saab sold as many Giraffe 1X systems in 2025 as it had sold in total from the system's market launch in 2021 until the start of 2025.
"The Giraffe 1X system is highly regarded and designed to address today's threats, such as drones," says Emma Berglund, Head of Product Unit Giraffe 1X. "Many of our sales come from repeat customers who have experienced the system's high-quality data and ease of use across different platforms. We also anticipated the urgent need for these systems from several customers."
One of the keys to this delivery success is standardisation with minimal customer-specific modifications. The Giraffe 1X hardware is kept simple, with as few parts as possible, reducing the number of components that could require repairing. It is already compact and lightweight, operated by a rugged laptop, and weighs less than 150 kilograms. The system can be powered by a standard 230-volt wall socket, and configurations and updates are handled via software. Production occurs at multiple sites, including Gothenburg, Sweden, and Fareham, UK, creating flexibility and resilience.
"The product itself and the standardisation are cornerstones of our increased production capacity," says Emma Berglund. "Equally important is the organisation-wide collaboration, with everyone taking ownership and working closely together to continuously improve the delivery flow to create customer value."
Development occurs in parallel with serial production. With a growing customer base, there are numerous sources providing development input for various applications and configurations. This benefits all customers through software updates.
Having an advanced and compact product offers other advantages in terms of mobility. "Operationally, it means we can rapidly deploy a system where it's needed, such as in response to drone activity near sensitive installations," says Emma. "It also allows us to demonstrate the product to potential customers. We can mount the radar on a Compact Radar Module, strap it to a pick-up, and visit the customer. Once there, it can be transferred to another vehicle or ship for demonstration."
"The Giraffe 1X's capabilities are evident, and our customers don't want to wait to acquire them," concludes Emma Berglund, Head of Product Unit Giraffe 1X. "That's why we delivered 60 systems in 60 days."
The Giraffe 1X is a compact, lightweight, and multi-mission 3D radar contracted by numerous customers. It can be used for air defence, counter-unmanned aerial vehicles (C-UAS), protection of buildings and sites, and naval applications for most types of vessels. As a software-based system, it can be continuously upgraded to counter new threats.