Farnborough International Airshow, United Kingdom – 21 July 2026
ST Airborne Systems Celebrates 50 Years of Airborne Surveillance Innovation
The Swedish company ST Airborne Systems is a global provider of advanced airborne surveillance solutions for maritime and environmental monitoring. In 2026, the company celebrates 50 years of innovation and operational excellence. To mark the milestone, ST Airborne Systems was celebrating its 50th anniversary with a special event during Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) 2026.
From Oil Spill Detection Pioneer…
The anniversary traces its origins to 1976, when the Swedish Coast Guard first flew the SLAR (Side-Looking Airborne Radar). The SLAR system was the result of pioneering work by Swedish engineers, commissioned by the Swedish Government after it had been concluded that SLAR was the right technology for detecting oil spills at sea, and that no affordable solution existed on the market.
At the time, protecting the environmentally sensitive Baltic Sea was a key priority and one of the most pressing environmental challenges of the time. Together with an infrared and ultraviolet sensor, the SLAR system allowed authorities to monitor large sea areas more effectively. This development constituted the first steps in what would eventually become the integrated surveillance systems provided by ST Airborne Systems, which also laid the foundation for a long-standing expertise in oil spill detection, airborne environmental monitoring and maritime surveillance.
…to Global Surveillance Provider
“The story of our company is closely connected to the innovation of SLAR, which became a cornerstone of airborne environmental surveillance. Fifty years later, we continue to build on that legacy through innovations such as the MSS 800 Solid-State SLAR, representing the next generation of airborne surveillance technology,”
Carl-Fredrik Hammarbäck, CEO, ST Airborne Systems.
Today, ST Airborne Systems delivers advanced airborne surveillance solutions to coastal nations around the world, combining sophisticated sensor capabilities, real-time decision support and operational effectiveness for a wide range of airborne missions. The company’s solutions support environmental monitoring, maritime surveillance, oil spill detection, vessel traffic monitoring, fisheries protection, search and rescue, wildfire detection and monitoring, and other operations critical to the safety of society. The systems provide effective monitoring of large sea and land areas and are scalable across platforms ranging from UAVs and helicopters to large fixed-wing aircraft. With the introduction of the new generation MSS 8000 system, the company is building on five decades of innovation to meet future operational requirements.
“For fifty years we have worked in close cooperation with the operators and responsible authorities to develop technologies that help protect marine environments, improve maritime safety and provide decision-makers with reliable situational awareness. We are proud of our Swedish heritage and the international role we have played in promoting the wide-spread use of airborne surveillance capabilities worldwide,” said Olov Fäst, Senior Advisor and former CEO of ST Airborne Systems, who has been part of the company’s development for more than four decades.
Celebration took place at Farnborough International Airshow 2026
Visitors, customers, partners and media representatives joined ST Airborne Systems at Farnborough International Airshow 2026 on 21 July to celebrate 50 years of airborne surveillance innovation and discuss the future of maritime and environmental monitoring.
The event provided an opportunity for attendees to meet with ST Airborne Systems representatives, learn more about the company’s heritage in airborne surveillance, and exchange views on emerging technologies and future operational requirements.
