France Orders 17 Giraffe 1X Radars for Air Defense

France has ordered 17 Swedish Giraffe 1X air surveillance radar systems.

Saab and Scania France jointly signed the corresponding contract with the French Directorate General of Armaments.

The French military will use one of the ordered radars for testing and evaluation.

The remaining 16 radars will be mounted on specialized Scania V3P Vampire military trucks used as platforms for air defense systems.

For this project, Saab and Scania France joined forces and formed a consortium for the duration of the contract.

The contract also covers spare parts, training, and technical support. Deliveries of the Giraffe 1X radars are expected between 2026 and 2027.

The program is intended to strengthen and modernize the French Armed Forces’ short-range and very short-range air defense capabilities.

France’s new radars

The Giraffe 1X is a lightweight multi-purpose surveillance radar designed for air defense missions. It can track aerial threats and provide real-time target data, including the detection of drones and other low-flying objects.

The radar can operate as a stationary, mobile, or naval system, providing flexibility in combat conditions. It is capable of detecting aerial targets at distances of up to 75 kilometers.

Last November, Scania France began production of specialized V3P Vampire trucks, which will serve as mobile air defense systems equipped with Mistral MANPADS.

The French Army views the Vampire system as a rapid way to strengthen defenses against drones and low-altitude aerial threats at the level of army air defense units.

The new Scania trucks will replace outdated TRM 2000- and VLRA-based platforms, equipped with PAMELA launchers.