Saab secures maintenance contract for Swedish submarines and rescue systems

Saab has signed a framework agreement with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to provide maintenance and support services for the Swedish Navy's submarines and submarine rescue systems.

The new framework agreement has an initial order value of Skr69m ($7.9m) and is set to continue until 2019.

The company will be responsible for maintaining and delivering high operational availability of the Swedish Armed Forces submarines and submarine rescue systems by configuration management, maintenance, engineering support and modifications under the new deal.

Saab business area Kockums Submarines head Sverker Lindholm said: “Through long-term planning we enable the Swedish Navy to have the highest possible availability of their submarines and submarine rescue.”

The framework agreement forms part of the declaration of intent that was first presented by Saab and FMV on 9 June 2014.

The FMV awarded contracts worth Skr8.6bn (approximately $1bn) to Saab in June 2015, which outlined the construction of two new Type A26 submarines and a mid-life upgrade for two Gotland-class submarines.

Saab was responsible for constructing, verifying and providing two new Type A26 submarines to the Swedish Navy for a total order value of Skr7.6bn ($870m) as part of the arrangement.

Deliveries of the vessels are slated to begin in 2022 and be finalised in 2024.

Saab also received another order from the FMV to modify and upgrade the Swedish Navy's two Koster-class mine countermeasures vessels (MCMVs) in July last year.

The company develops and maintains submarine systems in order to address various customer requirements, including propulsion, communication and targeting capabilities.