st airborne
ST Airborne Systems is a Swedish company that designs airborne maritime and environmental surveillance systems combining SLAR radar, multispectral sensors, and mission management software, serving coast guards, border guards, and environmental agencies in over 20 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersSundbyberg, Sweden
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What st airborne does
ST Airborne Systems AB is a Swedish privately held company that designs, manufactures, and supports airborne maritime and environmental surveillance systems for government operators. Founded in 1976 as the airborne surveillance unit of the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC), the company spun out as an independent entity in 2014 and is headquartered in Sundbyberg, Sweden, with regional offices in Singapore and India. Its core platform is the MSS 8000 mission system — a modular, Ethernet-based architecture that integrates Side-Looking Airborne Radar (SLAR, with a Solid-State variant delivering up to 160 km detection range), a seven-band Airborne Multispectral Sensor (UV to LWIR), electro-optical/infrared cameras, and AIS receivers, optionally coupled to a ground-based Mission Command Centre. The portfolio spans four generations (MSS 5000, 6000, 7000, 8000) and the company has delivered more than 80 systems to operators in over 20 countries.
The company serves coast guards, border guards, maritime authorities, and environmental protection agencies worldwide. Documented customers include Transport Canada, Finnish Border Guard, Estonian Police and Border Guard, Vietnam Coast Guard, Indian Coast Guard, and Polish Marine Environment Protection. Revenue is generated through one-time system sales bundled with multi-year support agreements, professional services for training and integration, and recurring product support and maintenance contracts. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales targeting government procurement, supported by persistent participation in major defense and aerospace trade shows (Farnborough, Paris, Singapore, Aero India, LIMA, DEFEA, Indo Defence) and a long-term integration partnership with Bromma Air Maintenance for aircraft modifications.
The business is led by CEO Carl-Fredrik Hammarbäck (appointed October 2023, formerly of Saab and Skeldar), with founder Olov Fäst serving as Senior Advisor and Board Member. Recent strategic activity includes the MSS 8000 launch at FIA 2026, a Letter of Intent with MD Aircraft GmbH on electric aviation integration, an MOU with India's Jeanuvs under the Make in India initiative, and ISO certification across quality, safety, and sustainability in 2025.
st airborne firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- st airborne
- Legal name
- ST Airborne Systems AB
- Website
- https://airbornesystems.se
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- ST Airborne Systems is a Swedish company that designs airborne maritime and environmental surveillance systems combining SLAR radar, multispectral sensors, and mission management software, serving coast guards, border guards, and environmental agencies in over 20 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
st airborne industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Airborne Maritime Surveillance Systems
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Radar Systems & Subsystems (Airborne, Ground, Naval) (IMABAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Military Avionics, Mission Computers & Flight Controls (IMABAMAE)
Keywords
Where st airborne is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sundbyberg
- HQ country
- Sweden
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
st airborne business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Surveillance System Sales: Sale of complete airborne surveillance systems (MSS 6000, 7000, 8000) integrated into customer aircraft. Systems include radar, sensors, mission software, and operator consoles. Typical long-term contracts with government/defense customers.
- Training Services: Comprehensive training programs including operator training, maintenance engineer training, and executive briefings. Training delivered over two weeks with hands-on airborne sessions and classroom components.
- Product Support & Maintenance: Long-term support agreements including telephone and email support, repair services for Line Replaceable Units, annual preventive maintenance, and system upgrades. Available as yearly maintenance agreements tailored to customer requirements.
- System Integration: Integration of sensors, communication systems, and mission applications into unified operational environment. End-to-end mission system integration expertise for radar, multispectral sensors, EO/IR cameras, AIS, and communication equipment.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom enterprise pricing based on system configuration |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
st airborne product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ST Airborne Systems designs, manufactures, and integrates advanced airborne surveillance systems for maritime, environmental, and security missions. Its flagship MSS 8000 platform combines Side-Looking Airborne Radar (SLAR), multispectral sensors, EO/IR cameras, and mission management software on a modular Ethernet-based architecture. Systems are deployed on fixed-wing aircraft, rotary-wing platforms, and UAVs for coast guards, border guards, and environmental agencies worldwide.
Product overview
ST Airborne Systems offers a modular airborne surveillance platform with the MSS 8000 as the core next-generation mission system, complemented by specialized sensor add-ons including the Solid-State SLAR radar and Airborne Multispectral Sensor (AMS), plus a Mission Command Centre for ground-based coordination. The portfolio spans multiple generations (MSS 5000, 6000, 7000, 8000) with legacy systems still in operation. All products integrate advanced sensors (radar, EO/IR, IR/UV) for environmental monitoring, maritime security, search and rescue, and border surveillance missions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- MSS 8000 Next-generation airborne mission system combining mission management, sensor integration, and real-time information sharing in a flexible, Ethernet-based platform. Provides situational awareness for demanding missions across land and sea, deployable across UAVs, rotary-wing, and fixed-wing aircraft.
- MSS 7000 Airborne ISR Multi-Mission Management System representing transition from maritime surveillance to multi-mission ISR capabilities; predecessor to MSS 8000.
- MSS 6000 Airborne maritime surveillance system with multi-mission capabilities for pollution monitoring, fishery control, EEZ protection, border control, ice patrol, and ship traffic management. Deployed by Transport Canada, Finnish Border Guard, and Vietnam Coast Guard among others.
- MSS 5000 Previous-generation mission system that built upon SLAR technology foundation for airborne surveillance operations.
- Training & Support Services Comprehensive customer training, spare parts, system documentation, and ongoing technical support including operator training, maintenance engineer training, and executive briefings delivered over two-week programs, plus long-term telephone/email support, LRU repair services, annual preventive maintenance, and system upgrades.
Quantifiable outcome
- 50% reduction in detected oil spills in Baltic Sea over six years (Finnish Border Guard)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use st airborne
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
st airborne technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
st airborne partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- MD Aircraft GmbHcoreSigned Letter of Intent at Farnborough International Airshow 2026 to explore integration of electric aircraft technology with advanced airborne mission systems. Collaboration aims to develop sustainable airborne surveillance solutions using MD Aircraft's electric aviation technology for maritime surveillance, environmental monitoring, and special mission operations with reduced environmental impact. MD Aircraft developing MDA1 eViator electric aircraft with commercial certification targeted for 2030.
- JeanuvscoreSigned Memorandum of Understanding with Jeanuvs, an innovative Indian company, reinforcing long-standing cooperation with Indian Coast Guard. Partnership aims to contribute to Make in India initiative through local collaboration, technology transfer, and joint development of high-performance surveillance capabilities for maritime and environmental protection with ambition to bring such development to global market.
- Business SwedenminorParticipated in Singapore-Sweden Business Forum hosted by Business Sweden and Embassy of Sweden in Singapore. Part of 50-company Swedish business delegation during historic first Swedish state visit to Singapore. Forum organized to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties.
- Bromma Air Maintenance (BAM)coreLong-term cooperation partnership for aircraft installations, modifications, and special mission aircraft solutions. BAM performs system installations and aircraft modifications to make them suitable for surveillance operations. Joint presence at industry trade shows including Farnborough International Airshow.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
st airborne competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Saab: Swedish defense prime with a broad airborne ISR portfolio including maritime surveillance radar (Sea Giraffe), UAV systems, and integrated mission suites. Comparable to ST Airborne as a fellow Swedish aerospace company serving coast guards and naval authorities globally, though at vastly greater scale.
- Thales: Global defense and aerospace group offering maritime surveillance radars (e.g., Searchmaster, Ocean Master), airborne mission systems, and integrated coast guard solutions. Directly comparable technology overlap with ST Airborne's SLAR and mission management offerings, but with much broader portfolio and global footprint.
- Leonardo: Italian defense prime offering airborne radar (e.g., Gabbiano, Seaspray), maritime patrol aircraft (ATR MP), and integrated ISR mission systems. Comparable to ST Airborne in coastal/maritime surveillance mission systems, with significantly larger scale and platform integration capabilities.
- Elbit Systems: Israeli defense electronics group producing airborne electro-optic, radar, electronic warfare, and maritime surveillance payloads, plus UAV platforms used for ISR. Comparable to ST Airborne across sensor and mission system offerings, with broader portfolio across land, air, and sea.
- Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI): Israeli aerospace prime offering airborne maritime surveillance systems (ELTA), special-mission aircraft conversions, and integrated ISR mission suites. Comparable to ST Airborne as a provider of customized airborne maritime surveillance solutions to coast guards and navies worldwide.
Direct peers
- Hensoldt: German sensor house specializing in radar, electronic warfare, and avionics for airborne, naval, and ground platforms, including maritime surveillance radars (TRS/LR/Radar systems) integrated on special-mission aircraft. Closest pure-play sensor specialist comparable to ST Airborne's SLAR and AMS offerings.
- FLIR Systems (Teledyne FLIR): U.S.-based sensor manufacturer (now part of Teledyne) producing airborne thermal imaging, multi-spectral sensors, and maritime surveillance cameras used on coast guard and border protection aircraft. Directly comparable to ST Airborne's AMS multispectral and EO/IR sensor stack.
- Cobham Aerospace Communications: Provider of airborne communication, surveillance, and electronic warfare subsystems, including mission system components and sensors for special-mission aircraft. Comparable as an airborne mission-system component supplier serving defense and government customers.
- Terma: Danish aerospace and defense company producing surveillance radar (e.g., SCANTER), mission systems, and electronic warfare suites for maritime patrol aircraft and coast guard platforms. Directly comparable to ST Airborne in airborne maritime surveillance radar and integrated mission solutions.
Regional players
- Indra Sistemas: Spanish defense and technology company providing coastal surveillance radars, airborne mission systems, and integrated maritime domain awareness solutions for European and Latin American customers. Comparable technology overlap to ST Airborne, with strong European defense footprint.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
st airborne social profiles
Digital presencest airborne compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
st airborne financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
st airborne leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
st airborne funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
st airborne M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about st airborne
What does st airborne do?
ST Airborne Systems designs, manufactures, and integrates advanced airborne surveillance systems for maritime, environmental, and security missions. Its flagship MSS 8000 platform combines Side-Looking Airborne Radar (SLAR), multispectral sensors, EO/IR cameras, and mission management software on a modular Ethernet-based architecture. Systems are deployed on fixed-wing aircraft, rotary-wing platforms, and UAVs for coast guards, border guards, and environmental agencies worldwide.
Is st airborne a public or private company?
st airborne is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was st airborne founded?
st airborne was founded in 1976.
Where is st airborne based?
st airborne is headquartered in Sundbyberg, Sweden, in the Europe region.
How does st airborne make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Surveillance System Sales are the primary driver. The others are training Services, product Support & Maintenance and system Integration.
Who are st airborne's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Saab, Thales, Leonardo, Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). Direct peers are Hensoldt, FLIR Systems (Teledyne FLIR), Cobham Aerospace Communications and Terma. Indra Sistemas is listed as a regional player.
Does st airborne have an API?
No public API is recorded for st airborne.
What industry is st airborne in?
st airborne's product category is Airborne Maritime Surveillance Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAGAA, Radar Systems & Subsystems (Airborne, Ground, Naval), with a secondary code of IMABAMAE, Military Avionics, Mission Computers & Flight Controls. Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3812.