NAVDEX 2025: Saab unveils phased-array coastal surveillance radar

A full-scale model of Saab's new Coast Control Radar on display at IDEX/NAVDEX 2025. (Saab)

Saab unveiled a coastal surveillance radar at the NAVDEX 2025 exhibition, held in Abu Dhabi from 17 to 21 February.

Developed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at Saab's research and development facilities in Abu Dhabi, the Coast Control Radar is a next-generation phased-array, non-rotating software-defined radar intended for safeguarding territorial waterways and national sovereignty.

The system features a compact, modular design that enables 360° coverage and is easy to integrate into fixed infrastructure such as buildings, towers, and waterway bridges.

Speaking to Janes at NAVDEX 2025, Myrin Naidoo, head of systems engineering at Saab UAE, said the radar was developed “from the ground up” in the UAE, including all software and hardware components.

“We looked at the coastal and vessel surveillance market and saw the importance of tracking ships and what that means to a country's economy,” he explained. “And we saw a gap in this market, where we could bring in the latest technology, such as phased-array and non-rotating technology.”

Naidoo said that land-based coastal surveillance radars are typically rotating types that are usually much larger and incorporating older technology. The advantage of the active electronically scanned array technology the company is looking to introduce into the sector is that it can point and start at targets, he said. “This means you can get more accurate measurements, such as the speed measurement, so we can paint a better picture in terms of clutter suppression and noise levels over your conventional radars, which is very important in congested environments.”