14 June 2023

Luftwaffe reportedly selects Saab to provide Eurofighter EK electronic attack payload

by Gareth Jennings

A mock-up of the Eurofighter EK, featuring a generic escort jammer pod, was showcased at the ILA Berlin Air Show in 2022. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)

The Luftwaffe has selected the Saab Arexis electronic warfare (EW) suite for its Eurofighter Elektronischer Kampf (EK) requirement, German national media reported on 13 June.

Der Spiegel said the selection will see Saab and national partner Helsing provide the suite for the Luftwaffe's Eurofighter EK electronic attack (EA) escort jammer aircraft by 2030. Integration will be done by Airbus as the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for the Eurofighter in Germany.

Neither the Bundeswehr nor Airbus had responded to a request for confirmation at the time of publication, while Saab told Janes it was unable to comment on the report. News of the reported selection came six-and-a-half months after the Luftwaffe told Janes it had delayed its decision thatwas due by the end of 2022, saying in early January that an announcement would not be made until July “at the earliest”.

Saab first told Janes and other defence media in August 2022 that it planned to pitch its Arexis for the Eurofighter EK requirement, with EW and Arexis sales director Mikael Corp describing the suite as “the perfect fit”. The Swedish company is the incumbent provider for the EW system for the Luftwaffe's Panavia Tornado Electronic Combat Role (ECR) that is to be replaced by the Eurofighter EK.

The Luftwaffe has selected the Saab Arexis electronic warfare (EW) suite for its Eurofighter Elektro...

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