Strong Relationship with Germany
Saab has received an order worth SEK107 million from the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) for upgrading German Army vehicle simulators, beginning this year.
Saab will provide new software and hardware to German Army vehicles and tanks operating BT 46 laser simulators, e.g. LEOPARD, FENNEK, MARDER and WIESEL vehicles and bring them to the new standard for laser codes: SISO.
Interoperability is the key to multinational, integrated live training exercises. The live training community understands that abiding by the interoperable standards outlined by the Simulation Interoperability Standards Organisation (SISO) will lead to cohesive training within the same space. This understanding has invigorated coordination efforts to address gaps, ensuring that participants are not restricted in integrated training events.
This means that the German Army will be interoperable with most European countries, as the number of multinational exercises increases and the SISO standard lets them train together. In the near future, there will be 12 countries in Europe using the new standard.
“An effect of the security situation in Europe is that more and more of our customers emphasise that interoperability is extremely important in order to carry out multinational exercises of high quality,” Åsa Thegström, Head of Saab Dynamics Training & Simulation, says. “We have a long and very good cooperation with the German customer and this order strengthens our relationship and Saab’s presence in Germany.”
“The German Army has been a customer on the BT 46 laser simulator since 1985, and during the years we have delivered the system for almost all weapons on German fighting vehicles and main battle tanks,” Görgen Johansson, Head of Saab Dynamics, continues. “It is a proven simulator system for gunnery training with different weapons and for realistic and tactical combat exercises in field.”
The BT 46 system has been delivered to more than 20 countries supporting both combat training with vehicles and their weapons. More than 7000 vehicle simulators have been delivered for more than 100 applications worldwide. In August2017, the Estonian Armed Forces have signed a contract with Saab for a new batch BT46 training systems, which will be used by the mechanised brigade, at the regiments and at the infantry school. The first batch had been ordered back in 2008.
DPM