Saab unveils UAE-developed Coast Control Radar at IDEX 2025
“We see that there is a global need for this [radar]. The [need] for this kind of radars for the Coast Guard, and even more so now securing waterways will become more and more important,” a company official told Breaking Defense.
Saab’s UAE arm showcases a new radar at IDEX 2025. (Agnes Helou / Breaking Defense)
IDEX 2025 — Sweden’s Saab unveiled a new radar at the Abu Dhabi defense show IDEX, this one developed in the United Arab Emirates through the government-affiliated Tawazun Industrial Park.
The next-generation Coast Control Radar, which was on display at IDEX 2025, is a static, non-rotating system that uses phased-array software.
“It’s crucial to have this kind of new technique, [with] low maintenance [requirement], as it’s a non-rotating radar. That is kind of the key features that takes this radar into the kind of next generation,” Saab’s UAE managing director Heléne Bittmann told Breaking Defense in an interview at the show.
The new radar is designed to safeguard territorial waters and to detect smaller vessels at a time when maritime security poses a big concern in the Middle East region, especially in light of continuous attacks on shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf.
“I think for the UAE, it’s really important to be indigenous, having their own kind of securing and defense capabilities, making sure their people and society are kept safe,” Bittmann said.
She added that Saab UAE is in continuous discussion with Tawazun, the governmental entity charged with procurement and development, to align with the country’s vision.
“Designed for easy integration into infrastructure such as buildings, towers, and waterway bridges, the Coast Control Radar ensures flexible installation and can offer comprehensive 360-degree coverage. Its modular design minimises installation challenges while also offering routine software upgrades for continued exceptional detection and performance,” the company said in a statement.
The coast guard radar is the second system developed by Saab UAE and uses Emirati intellectual property. The other was DeployNet, a portable 5G network provider column that the company says can be easily deployed to provide network services in rural or remote environments.
DeployNet was also on display at the firm’s exhibition display.
“We see that there is a global need for this [radar]. The [need] for this kind of radars for the Coast Guard, and even more so now securing waterways will become more and more important. So we do see a genuine interest,” Bittmann said.
She expected that Saab UAE “will have the opportunity to grow even more. That’s my ambition. And they have invested a lot in the UAE, and we’re here to stay and to continue to drive that.”
Bittmann concluded that the firm’s next five-year plan is to continue to focus on the sensor software and radar capabilities.
