Saab has been awarded two contracts by Airbus worth 549 million euros ($676 million) to equip Germany’s Eurofighter aircraft with its Arexis Electronic Warfare (EW) sensor suite.
The first order, valued at approximately 291 million euros ($337 million), is the continuation of a contract signed with Airbus Defence and Space in March 2024 for the integration of the Arexis suite into the Eurofighter EK (Elektronischer Kampf or Electronic Warfare).
The second order incorporates AI technologies developed by both Saab and its strategic partner Helsing. It is valued at approximately 291 million euros ($337 million) and remains subject to authority approval.
Delivery under both contracts is scheduled from 2025 to 2028.
“Arexis is one of the most advanced fully digital sensors and jamming systems available on the market,” President and CEO of Saab Micael Johansson said.
“The system will improve the Eurofighter’s situational awareness and survivability on the modern battlefield.”
Arexis EW Suite
Initially developed for the Swedish Gripen fighter as a podded system, the Arexis solution can now be fully integrated onboard an aircraft, housed in a missionised pod, or deployed as a payload on an unmanned platform.
Featuring high-power gallium nitride active electronically scanned arrays, ultra-wideband receivers, and digital radio-frequency memory systems, it is capable of jamming “anti-stealth” radars and penetrating anti-access/area-denial environments.
Arexis will replace the two existing wingtip pods on the Eurofighter that currently house the Defensive Aids Sub-System.
Eurofighter EK
The system will be retrofitted onto 15 Eurofighter aircraft selected for the EK program, which will succeed the aging Tornado ECR (Electronic Combat/Reconnaissance) fleet.
In addition to the 15 aircraft, which will be NATO-certified by 2030, the newly-ordered 20 Tranche 5 Eurofighters will also be modified to the EK configuration.
Besides Saab’s Arexis suite, the Eurofighter EK will also employ the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile, which uses an active millimeter-wave radar seeker that enables it to target ground-based air defense radars even after they stop emitting.
