Poland presented with first Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft

The first of two Saab 340 AEW&C for Poland was presented to the Polish Air Force on 29 September, ahead of the formal delivery in the coming months. (Polish Armament Agency)

Poland has been presented with the first of two Saab 340 Erieye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft contracted earlier in 2023.

The event at Saab's Linkoping facility in southern Sweden on 29 September was attended by Polish Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak who noted that this first aircraft will be delivered “within a few months”.

The presentation came two months after the Polish Armament Agency signed a contract in late July for the two aircraft it will use to protect Polish airspace and to strengthen NATO's eastern flank.

Although not officially confirmed, it is understood that Saab is providing to Poland two recently retired airframes from the United Arab Emirates that had been stored in Sweden. Saab previously said the award is valued at approximately SEK600 million (USD58 million), and the contract period is 2023–25.