GIRAFFE Radar The Saab ( formerly Ericsson Microwave Systems AB ) GIRAFFE Radar is a family of land and naval two - or three - dimensional G / H - band ( 4 to 8 GHz ) radar - based surveillance and air defense command and control systems tailored for operations with medium - and Short Range Air Defense ( SHORAD ) missile or gun systems or for use as gap - fillers in a larger air defense system . The radar gets its name from the distinctive folding mast which when deployed allows the radar to see over nearby terrain features such as trees , extending its effective range against low - level air targets . The first systems were produced in 1977 . By 2007 , some 450 units of all types are reported as having been delivered . Description . Giraffe is a family of G / H ( formerly C - band ) frequency agile , low to medium altitude pulse doppler air search radars and combat control centers which can be used in mobile or static short to medium range air defense applications . Giraffe is designed to detect low - altitude , low cross - section aircraft targets in conditions of severe clutter and electronic countermeasures . When equipped as an air - defense command center Giraffe provides an air picture to each firing battery using manpack radio communication . GIRAFFE uses Agile Multi - Beam ( AMB ) , which includes an integrated Command , control and communication ( C ) system . This enables GIRAFFE to act as the command and control center in an air defense system , it can also be integrated into a sensor net for greater coverage . It is normally housed in a single 6m long shelter mounted on an all - terrain vehicle for high mobility . Additionally the shelter can be augmented with Nuclear , Biological and Chemical protection and light layers of armor to protect against small arms and fragmentation threats . Variants . Giraffe 40 . This is a short - range ( instrumented ) air defense radar with command and control capability . It employs a folding antenna mast that extends to a height of when deployed and can be integrated with an Interrogation Friend or Foe ( IFF ) capability . Coverage is stated to be from ground level to in altitude . In Swedish service the radar is designated PS - 70 and PS - 701 and provides target data to RBS - 70 SHORADS missiles and 40mm Bofors guns . A more powerful version with a 60 kW transmitter is known commercially as Super Giraffe and in Swedish service as PS - 707 . These radars are no longer marketed . Giraffe 50AT . This is the model used in the Norwegian NALLADS air defense system which combines the radar and RBS - 70 missiles with 20 mm anti - aircraft guns to provide low - level air defense for the combat brigades of the Norwegian army . Mounted on a BV - 202 all - terrain tracked vehicle this version has an instrumented range of . The antenna extends to a height of and the system can control up to 20 firing units of guns or missiles or a combination of both . The Command and Control system features fully automatic track initiation , target tracking , target identification ( IFF ) , target classification and designation , hovering helicopter detection threat evaluation and handling of " pop - up " targets . It can also exchange data with Giraffe 75 or AMB systems as part of a larger network . Giraffe 75 . This features a antenna mast and is normally carried on a 6x6 5 - ton cross - country truck which carries the radar and command and control shelter . Instrumented range is and altitude coverage extends from ground - level to . An optional add - on unit extends the radars coastal defense capabilities . In Swedish service the radar is designated PS - 90 . In the Greek Air Force Giraffe 75 is used in combination with Contraves ( now Rheinmetall defense ) Skyguard / Sparrow fire control systems . 1 Giraffe typically controls 2 Skyguard systems each with 2 twin 35 mm GDF - 005 guns and 2 Sparrow surface - to - air missile launchers . Giraffe S . Optimized as a mobile radar for un - manned remote - controlled applications as a " gap - filler " in air defense early warning systems concentrating on small , low - flying targets over a long distance . It can also be employed as a coastal surveillance radar where targets are small surface vessels and sea - skimming missiles or aircraft . A new antenna extends range coverage to with altitude coverage from ground level to . The antenna mast extends to . ARTE 740 . This is a coastal defense radar based on the Giraffe 75 antenna and Giraffe AMB processing system optimized for surface and low - altitude coverage for the Swedish Amphibious Forces ( formerly the Coastal Artillery ) . It is mounted on a MOWAG Piranha 10x10 armored vehicle . 6 systems are in service . GIRAFFE AMB . This newest member of the family , providing multi - beam 3 - Dimensional air coverage at 5 . 4 to 5 . 9 GHz with instrumented ranges of , and , the altitude coverage is extended from ground - level to with 70 - degree elevation coverage . Data rate is 1 - scan per - second . Its maintained pulse density suppresses high cluttering in adverse weather conditions . Ultra - low antenna side - lobes combined with pulse - to - pulse and burst - to - burst frequency agility provides some resistance to jamming . As in previous Giraffe radars automatic hovering helicopter detection is provided as is an artillery and mortar locating function , allowing the radar to detect incoming rounds and give 20 seconds or more of warning before impact . Giraffe AMB is the principal sensor of the Swedish RBS 23 BAMSE air defense missile system but is available for many other applications . A skilled crew can deploy the radar in around 10 minutes and recover it in around 6 minutes . Sea GIRAFFE . Sea GIRAFFE is the naval variant of the GIRAFFE radar with AMB technology . It can detect air and surface targets from the horizon up to a height of at elevations up to 70° , and can simultaneously handle multiple threats approaching from different directions and altitudes , including diving anti - ship missiles . Also , it is specialized for rapidly detecting small , fast moving targets at all altitudes and small surface targets in severe clutter . Its roles include :