Saab Is Angling To Take Control Of ThyssenKrupp Submarine Yard In Sweden

Three years ago, Kockums, the Swedish national submarine manufacturer was sold by the Swedish government to Germany’s ThyssenKrupp, but after uncertainty over jobs and boat building guarantees, it appears the Swedish government is angling for Saab to take control of the Malmo-based ship-building yard.
 

In a clear statement of intent, Sweden’s procurement agency FMV announced on Feb. 27 that it was allocating $3.84 million to test whether or not Saab had the ability to design and build the next generation of Swedish submarine.

 

 

The move was spawned by disappointment coming from the Swedish Defense Ministry that Thyssen wouldn’t give guarantees that ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, what Thyssen renamed the old Kockums yard in Malmo, would continue to be a large-vessel producer in the region. Additionally, the ministry was concerned because Thyssen hadn’t provided fixed prices for the delivery of two new A26 generation subs and mid-life refits for the Gotland-class submarine

Navies use undersea drone as sub warfare training target

Saab -- yes, Saab -- has built an amphibious drone meant to keep submarine crews on their toes.

The Saab AUV62 is a highly sophisticated autonomous underwater vehicle that mimics a submarine, allowing navies to train for anti-submarine warfare as realistically as possible without blowing up expensive submarines.

Though it's an unmanned vehicle, the AUV62's unique acoustic payload means it will show up on sonar screens as an enemy sub. It's essentially the underwater equivalent of skeet shooting, except with torpedoes.

According to Saab, the battery-powered AUV62 can either be preprogrammed to follow a particular underwater route, using collision detection to avoid other vessels, or a remote operator can control it using either a radio or acoustic link. It can travel at speeds as fast as 20 knots, and it can descend to more than 1,640 feet below the surface. It's possible to launch the AUV62 from the shore, from a submarine, or from a ship -- as shown above.

Though several military customers have already ordered AUV62s for anti-submarine target practice, the undersea Saab has abilities other than getting blasted out of the water during training missions. 

Depending on how it's configured, it can be used for minesweeping and reconnaissance. The Swedish military has already deployed the AUV62 for such purposes.

 Fans of the SPG and 9-3 Viggen who panicked at the sight of "Saab" and "torpedo" in the same sentence need not worry: Nobody went all Vampire Weekend on a classic 900. Saab's automotive division split from Saab Group in 1990, and the company's defense and aircraft businesses are still going strong.

Skeldar V-200 Successfully Completes Flight Test Milestones

Defence and security company Saab has verified a number of key capabilities of its Skeldar V-200 vertical lift UAS through flight campaigns at different sites in US and Sweden demonstrating the system’s performance for both land and sea based operations. A number of successful customer demonstration flights have also been conducted.

High complexity flight envelopes such as fully autonomous flights were conducted in both day and night conditions demonstrating convoy shadowing capability, EO/IR sensor utilization, precision landing as well as long range missions using Tactical Hand-Over between Ground Control Stations using Saab’s flexible stationary and mobile ground control station.

In addition, a heavy fuel engine has now been verified through extensive flight trials and an upgraded next generation version of the original design aviation fuel engine has been delivered and is now cleared for flight test.

“The Skeldar V-200 has passed yet another important milestone in the program with these key capabilities verified and demonstrated to various customers,”says Mikael Franzén, Director of Saab’s Product Area Tactical UAS.

The unmanned system’s built in safety functionality confirmed contingency behaviours in case of link loss including autonomous navigation in accordance to predefined parameters as well as auto landing and shut down.

 “The combination of two alternative engine types, a modular payload design, and the ability to incorporate and utilise a variety of data link systems, provides a true multi-mission capability for the Skeldar V-200 and a flexibility that enables the customer successfully meet their mission objectives on Land or at Sea,” concludes Mikael Franzén.

Gripen demonstrator arrives for latest Swiss promotion

Saab’s Gripen F test aircraft touched down in Emmen, Switzerland on 3 October, as part of a campaign to sell 22 of the new-generation combat aircraft to the nation’s air force.

Accompanied on its 2h journey from Linköping in Sweden by a twin-seat Gripen D, the next-generation development aircraft will remain in Switzerland for 10 days. During this time it will be shown to personnel from the nation’s defence committees and also appear at the Axalp air show on 10-11 October. The aircraft will be flown by pilots from the Swiss air force and Armasuisse defence procurement agency during the public event.

Saab

Switzerland in November 2011 selected the Gripen as the preferred candidate for a requirement to replace its Northrop F-5 fighters. Discussions over a planned Swfr3.1 billion ($3.3 billion) deal are expected to run until a contract can be signed between late 2013 and mid-2014. Aircraft deliveries are expected to commence during 2018.

French manufacturer Dassault is, meanwhile, continuing its efforts to offer the Rafale for the Swiss requirement, after losing out in the earlier selection process, along with the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Saab 2000 offered as Swordfish MPA

The Saab 2000 regional turboprop could be adapted for maritime patrol applications under a new proposal by the Swedish airframer.

Eyeing potential future requirements in nations including the UK, Saab has unveiled plans for a 2000-based maritime patrol aircraft dubbed the Swordfish. And while no formal discussions have been held with the UK's Ministry of Defence, the company has already assembled a team of local partners to create the new special mission asset.

Selex Galileo would provide its Seaspray 7500 maritime surveillance radar, and Ultra Electronics an active acoustic system for use in the detection of submarine threats. FLIR Systems would supply a high-definition electro-optical/infrared sensor pod. Commercial Saab 2000 operator Eastern Airways could also deliver in-service support.

The Swordfish would have a typical on-station endurance of 5.5h while operating 200nm (370km) away from its originating base, Saab says.

Multiple contractors are eyeing the UK as a potential future market for maritime patrol aircraft, following the cancellation of its BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4 programme. However, the MoD has no funded programme to replace the capability before 2020 at least.

"We are very focused on offering a cost-effective and affordable solution," says Matthew Smith, Saab's business development director for surveillance solutions. Noting that the company now has a full family of systems to offer, he adds: "We're here to answer any questions for potential customers."

Saab previously sold an airborne early warning derivative of the Saab 2000 using refurbished aircraft to Pakistan and another undisclosed nation, which Flightglobal's MiliCAS database lists as being Saudi Arabia. It also has on offer an Air Tracer version for signals intelligence applications.

The company is also displaying its Saab 340 maritime surveillance aircraft at Farnborough for the first time.

Parts row delays delivery of 6 Saab aircraft

The delivery of six more Saab aircraft from Sweden has been delayed, a Royal Thai Air Force source said yesterday.

The delivery of the six Saab 340 AEW airborne early warning aircraft was set for last Tuesday at Don Muang military air base with the ceremony to welcome them scheduled for last Wednesday at Wing 7 in Surat Thani.

But this has now been put off because an American parts supplier has refused to sell some key products to the Swedish manufacturer for reasons that are unclear, said the source.

The Saab 340 AEW is used to control the Gripen fighter fleet.

"Certain key items of the jet parts and the radar system produced by the US firm have not been granted permission to be sold to other countries," said the source. "And that has resulted in a delay in [the Swedish company's] assembling of the aircraft which I really have no idea when will be completed.

"I'm not sure if this is a game or not because the Royal Thai Air Force chose the Gripen from Sweden over the F series aircraft from the United States. The latter might not be happy with that," said the source.

Air force commander Itthaporn Subha-wong travelled to Sweden late last month to discuss the delivery with Saab but to no avail, said the source.

Previously, the air force bought a total of 12 Gripen fighter jets from Sweden along with two Saab 340 AEW aircraft and one Saab 340 transport aircraft for a total of 34 billion baht.

The first batch of aircraft of six Gripen fighter jets, one Saab 340 AEW and one Saab 340 has been delivered and commissioned at Wing 7.

The second batch of another six Gripen jets and one more Saab 340 AEW aircraft are awaiting delivery.

Sweden funds continued development of Erieye radar

Saab has been awarded a SKr125 million ($17.4 million) contract for the continued technical support and development of the Erieye airborne early warning and control radar equipment aboard Swedish air force Saab 340 surveillance aircraft.

Placed by Sweden's Defence Materiel Administration and to run from 2012 to 2014, the award includes research and development activities linked to the Erieye/ASC890 sensor and command and control system, Saab says.

"We look forward to further developing the Erieye radar system together with our Swedish client," says Micael Johansson, head of the company's electronic defence systems business area.

A fixed sensor with two active electronically scanned arrays, each capable of providing 150˚ coverage, the Erieye radar can track airborne and maritime threats. The system has been in use with the Swedish air force since 1997, and has also been exported to Brazil, Greece, Mexico, Pakistan, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.

Speaking at IQPC's Airborne Early Warning and Battle Management conference in London in February, Saab head of product management for wide-area surveillance and reconnaissance Mats Wicksell revealed that the company had flight-tested a new maritime surveillance mode for the radar. The enhancement will enable operators aboard the surveillance aircraft to detect and track potential targets down to the size of a jet ski from long range.

The Swedish air force currently operates three Erieye-equipped Saab 340s, as recorded by Flightglobal's MiliCAS database.