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CANBERRA, Australia, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Saab has signed a contract with the Australian Defense Force to upgrade RBS 70 air defense and Giraffe AMB radar systems, the company announced Monday. The deal's combined value is about $25 million, Saab said in a statement.
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Delivered under the AIR 90 program, the existing friend or foe capability of the RBS 70 and Giraffe AMB systems will be upgraded to include Mode 5 functionality.
The Mode 5 waveform uses modern modulation, coding and cryptographic techniques to overcome performance and security limitations in the current Mode 4 iteration, Saab said.
The latest Mode 5 systems also provide expanded data handling capabilities to securely pass GPS position and other extended data.
Such arrays are a critical safety feature to ensure that ground-base air defense does not incorrectly engage friendly aircraft.
The upgrade will support Australia's ground-based air defense capability beyond 2030.
In service since 1987, the RBS 70 weapon system has seen enhancements to its weapon sight and missile to keep it ready against evolving air threats.
The Giraffe AMB was acquired in 2010 and offers high-fidelity airspace situational awareness, while simultaneously ensuring early warning of incoming rocket and mortar attacks.
Saab has delivered and supported the Australian army's ground-based air defense capability for three decades.
