Saab · Maritime Patrol / ASW / ISR · Sweden · Digital Age (2010–present)
Open in interactive gallery →See aircraft like this on the live radar →The Saab Swordfish MPA is a Swedish twin-engine turboprop maritime patrol aircraft developed by Saab AB on the airframe of the Saab 2000 commuter airliner. Saab launched the programme in 2014–2015 as its contemporary MPA proposal, pitching maritime-patrol and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) duties against the Boeing P-8 Poseidon, Kawasaki P-1 and Airbus C-295 MPA. As of 2026 the Swordfish has not entered frontline service, though Sweden and several other prospective customers have evaluated the platform. The aircraft reflects Saab's intent to compete in the current MPA market, building on the export success of the Erieye AEW&C and the company's maritime-aviation lineage. One to two demonstrators have been built; firm operator orders remain limited as of 2026.
Built around the Saab 2000 fuselage, the Swordfish measures 88 ft (27.0 m) in length with a wingspan of 81 ft (24.8 m). Empty weight is 31,500 lb and maximum take-off weight is 50,700 lb. Two Allison Rolls-Royce AE 2100A turboprops, each rated at roughly 4,150 shp, drive the aircraft to a maximum speed of 415 mph (Mach 0.62) and a service ceiling of 31,000 ft. Range with maximum fuel exceeds 3,000 nmi unrefuelled, with typical mission endurance around 12 hours. Crew complement is 8–10, including pilots, navigator, sensor operators and mission-systems specialists. The mission fit centres on the Saab Carabas-3 surface-search radar — derived from the Erieye family — together with sonobuoy launchers carrying 64+ sonobuoys, a magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) and an AN/AAS-44 forward-looking infrared (FLIR) turret. Weapons compatibility includes the Saab RBS-15 anti-shipping missile and Mk-46 / Mk-54 lightweight torpedoes.
Maritime patrol and ASW are the Swordfish's primary roles, delivered through the cost-effective Saab 2000 airframe and Saab's mission-systems suite. Saab targets cost-conscious markets where the P-8 Poseidon's price and larger airframe exceed mission requirements. Marketing material highlights a per-airframe cost roughly 50% below the P-8, endurance beyond 12 hours, and mission systems on par with the Poseidon's. Operator commitments remain limited through 2026, though Saab continues to pursue Sweden — which faces a future MPA replacement decision — alongside NATO and non-NATO prospects. Order intake through 2030 will determine whether the Swordfish establishes an in-service base.
The Saab Swordfish is a Swedish twin-turboprop sea-patrol plane. Saab designed it to hunt submarines, watch ships, and rescue sailors. The Swordfish first flew in 2016 and entered Swedish service in 2024, replacing the older Saab S 100B Argus radar plane.
The Swordfish is based on the Bombardier Q400 civilian airliner, with military electronics and weapons added. It has two Pratt and Whitney Canada PW150 engines, each making 5,000 horsepower. Top speed is 414 mph, faster than most race cars. The plane is 107 feet long with a 93-foot wingspan, longer than a Boeing 737.
The Swordfish carries sonar buoys (small floating microphones to listen for submarines), torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, and depth charges. Up to 9 crew members work at radar screens inside, tracking submarines and ships. The plane can stay airborne for over 10 hours.
Sweden has 6 Swordfish on order, with first delivery in 2024. The Swordfish replaces older Saab radar planes and gives Sweden modern sea-patrol capability. Other countries are also interested in the Swordfish, which competes with the much bigger Boeing P-8 Poseidon.
The Boeing P-8 is bigger, faster, and based on the 737 jetliner. The Swordfish is smaller, slower, and based on the Q400 turboprop. The Swordfish uses less fuel, is cheaper to buy and fly, and can land on shorter runways. The P-8 carries more weapons and flies farther. Sweden chose the Swordfish because it fits their needs and budget.
Submarines hide deep underwater, very hard to find from a ship. Planes fly high enough to cover huge areas of ocean quickly. Sea-patrol planes drop sonar buoys (small floating microphones) into the water. If a buoy hears a submarine, the plane flies over and attacks with torpedoes. This is much faster than searching with ships alone.
Sweden has a long coast on the Baltic Sea, with many ports and shipping lanes. Russian submarines have been seen in Swedish waters several times. Sweden needs a modern way to find and track these submarines. The Swordfish gives Sweden this capability, replacing older Saab 340 AEW radar planes that did a different (but related) job.
Different scale and cost. The Boeing P-8 Poseidon is a four-engine 737-derived jet at $200–260M USD per airframe, with a larger crew and payload and a 4,500 nmi range at maximum payload. The Saab Swordfish is a twin-engine Saab 2000-derived turboprop at $80–100M USD per airframe, with a smaller crew and payload and a 3,000+ nmi range. The P-8 brings broader sensor and weapon fit and a global production base; the Swordfish offers lower acquisition and operating cost. Both compete in today's MPA market, although the P-8 has dominated recent procurement decisions. The Swordfish targets cost-conscious markets where P-8 capacity is excessive.
Not in any meaningful sense as of 2026. Saab continues marketing to prospective operators, but production is limited to demonstrators and prototypes and no firm fleet orders have been booked. Order intake through 2030 will determine whether the Swordfish builds an in-service base. Commercial success depends on continued Saab development investment, firm orders from prospective operators, and whether competing platforms — the P-8 Poseidon, C-295 MPA and Kawasaki P-1 — close out remaining market opportunities.
Saab's maritime-patrol radar. The Carabas-3 uses AESA-class technology with surface-search detection against typical maritime targets and current signal processing. It belongs to the same Saab mission-systems family as the Erieye AESA AEW&C radar, and gives Swedish and international MPA operators a current-generation surface-search sensor in place of 1990s–2000s-era radar systems.
Defence and commercial reasons. (1) Swedish national defence: Sweden's maritime borders and Baltic Sea operating area demand an MPA fleet. (2) Export potential: Saab has a track record of global aerospace exports — Gripen, Erieye — and the Swordfish opens another export line. (3) Market positioning: continued investment in mission systems and airframes keeps Saab in contention against the Boeing P-8 and other alternatives. The Swordfish reflects Saab's ongoing investment in aerospace and global market presence despite a limited current operator base.
Different size and heritage. The French Dassault Atlantique 2 (ATL2) is a four-engine turboprop with French-developed mission systems, in service with the Aéronavale only. The Swordfish is a twin-engine Saab 2000-derivative with Saab mission systems aimed at export. Both represent European indigenous MPA development at different scales. ATL2 brings frontline maturity; Swordfish brings cost and commercial advantages. Both face the Boeing P-8 Poseidon in MPA competitions. Future European decisions may favour P-8 procurement, the Swordfish as a European alternative, continued ATL2 upgrades, or other options.