Officials have confirmed that Saudi Arabia has also procured an advanced
early-warning Erieye radar system from Saab. The radar was identified as the
Saab 2000 airborne early warning and control, sold with the Saab 2000
aircraft.
"We're talking about one of the world's worst dictatorships," Peter
Radberg a spokesman for Sweden's opposition Green Party, said. "We can't
send weapons to dictatorships that should be buying food instead."
The AEW platform was designed to detect low and slow-moving projectiles,
including cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. Officials said
Erieye could operate over land and water.
The latest batch of Swedish missiles was said to have arrived in Riyad
in August. Officials said the shipment included anti-tank missiles by
Saab Bofors Dynamics.
The Erieye deal was reported at nearly $670 million and included ground
equipment, logistics and support services. Saab has confirmed the
contract, but refused to identify the client.
The Swedish opposition has called for a comprehensive review of the
nation's arms export policies. Several opposition parties pledged to
introduce bills to
block exports to Saudi Arabia and other countries deemed violators of human
rights.
"If we had gotten a Red-Green government we would have introduced
legislation which, in my estimation, would have stopped weapons exports to
countries like Saudi Arabia," Hans Linde, a spokesman for the opposition
Left Party, said.