Polish Armed Forces Adding Saab Surveillance Aircraft to Fleet

The first of two Saab 340 airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft was unveiled in a ceremony in Linköping, Sweden. [Credit: Saab]

Officials from Poland's Armed Forces were presented with the first of two Saab 340 airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft in a ceremony in Linköping, Sweden, on Friday.

The surveillance aircraft, which were unveiled two months after an order was placed, will provide Poland "a national asset to reinforce territorial integrity and national security," the aircraft manufacturer said.

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“We are honored to provide this important capability to Poland and proud to be quickly progressing toward the delivery of this airborne early warning system to the Polish Armed Forces,” Carl-Johan Bergholm, head of Saab business area Surveillance, said in a statement.

Poland is one of nine countries that have purchased the Saab Erieye AEW/AEW&C system for air surveillance.

The aircraft purchase comes as Poland focuses on defense modernization. Last week, the U.S. signed a $2 billion loan to support the effort, as Poland continues to boost its military in the wake of Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

"In addition to its central support role in facilitating international assistance to neighboring Ukraine, Poland has demonstrated its ironclad commitment to strengthening regional security through its robust investments in defense spending," the U.S. State Department said in a statement September 25, according to a Reuters report.