Swedish FMV awards anti-submarine warfare training contract to Saab

The Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV) has contracted Saab to provide advanced anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training to Swedish Navy personnel.

The contract has been received as part of the letter of intent (LoI) signed between Saab and FMV in June 2014.

The LoI supports the Swedish Armed Forces' underwater capabilities for the period between 2015 and 2024.

The contract will see the company delivering an autonomous underwater vehicle, AUV62-AT, that is configured for anti-submarine training.

Saab's AUV62-AT is an advanced vehicle used to train the navy's ASW forces. The vehicle imitates a submarine in a way that is compatible with any torpedo and sonar system currently available, thus replacing the use of a submarine as a manoeuvring training target.

Saab underwater systems head Anne-Marie Vösu said: "For the Swedish Navy this order means that they will have an increased capability and flexibility to practice and train their units in anti-submarine warfare.

"Saab's experience and expertise within autonomous underwater vehicles means that we can offer world-leading training opportunities for our customers in anti-submarine warfare."

The AUV62-AT comes with built-in tools for training, planning and evaluation capabilities. It is a low-cost alternative that can be used for ASW operator training.

Deliveries under the contract will begin later this year and will continue up to 2019.