Saab Systems specialises in high technology
military systems projects pursued either individually or in alliance with
companies with complementary skills.
The company formed in 1988 as an extensive technology and skill transfer
project from Sweden to Australia. That project was a $400m combat system
integration contract for the Royal Australian and New Zealand Navy ANZAC
ship project.
In 1995, the company delivered the fully operational shipboard and
shore-based systems for the ANZAC class ships on time and on budget,
establishing a defence industry record for such a complex project. In
1998 Saab won the in-service support contract for the combat system.
Integrating the NATO developed surface-to-air Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile
(ESSM) recently, Saab has assured that the first ESSM will be fired from
an Australian ship.
Saab has been involved in ship control systems since the 1970s, when Saab
designed and fielded its first one-man "swim-by-wire" submarine
steering system for the Royal Swedish Navy. This has since led to the
full integration of platform management and based on this concept, Saab
was awarded the contract to supply the integrated ship control,
management and monitoring system for the Royal Australian Navy's COLLINS
class submarines — a most successful component of the COLLINS project.
The responsibility for this technology and related products within the
Saab group was transferred to Saab Systems in Australia during 2001.
Since Saab System's first major export contract - the development of a
mine warfare command support system for the Turkish Naval Forces Command
- Saab recently provided a customised training solution to the Royal New
Zealand Navy.
Saab Systems' expertise is not confined to naval defence. Its Battlefield
Command Support System (BCSS) performs a critical role for the Australian
Army. The system, for which Saab Systems is Prime Systems Integrator,
provides a made-to-order solution which is under continuous development
in order to meet changing Army requirements and keep pace with
technological advances.
BCSS was put into action during the Australian Defence Force's operations
in East Timor and attracted positive user feedback. Utilising COTS
hardware and software, BCSS manages and distributes the flow of
battlefield and tactical information using the Army's combat net
radios.
Saab also has a support system contract for the refurbishing and
upgrading the Army's Field Repair Facility which involves a set of 12
field deployable containers used for servicing combat net radios.
Diversifying to civilian work during 2001, Saab joined forces with
Brisbane City Enterprises creating Saab
ITS, a company specialising in intelligent transport systems.
Saab ITS is developing a Real Time Passenger Information System for
public buses in Auckland, New Zealand and a traffic flow regulation
system in Brisbane.
Another civilian product area is the universal Automatic Identification
System (AIS). The system is designed to increase safety within the
shipping industry and enhance the management of shipping
operations.
Saab Systems is part of the global Saab
Corporation that employs ~14,000 people and generates annual
revenues exceeding A$3 billion, much of which is re-invested in research
and development. As a result, Saab Systems was judged the top defence
R&D company in 2002. The Saab Corporation is one of the world's
leading high technology companies focussing on defence, aviation and
space.
Based in Adelaide, Saab Systems Pty Ltd is an Australian top ten defence
systems firm, employing over 200 people in a work culture emphasising
partnership, innovation and reliability for the customer.
http://www.saabsystems.com.au/aboutsaab.htm
