Adapting to the challenge: delivering operational training in the Jordanian desert
Collaborating with others allows us to see different perspectives, solve problems faster, and overcome roadblocks that might otherwise prevent us from moving forward. At BlueBear – Saab UK’s autonomy accelerator - we work closely with our partners to achieve a common goal: keeping people and society safe.
Technology is only ever part of the story. It's what you do with it that really counts. That's why, as well as producing advanced UAV prototypes that replicate real-world threats, we work alongside our customers to ensure these systems integrate seamlessly into their existing capabilities and operational requirements.
Operating in the desert
That’s a commitment that can take us all over the world, including the desert sands of Jordan. Over the course of ten days, the team worked closely with the customer to validate capabilities, share expertise and strengthen professional relationships. Delivering the training in Jordan presented a unique set of challenges. Operating in Amman, where temperatures were significantly higher and conditions much drier than those the team was accustomed to, required careful planning, flexibility and adaptation.
The team’s focus was to use our threat representative uncrewed aerial system (UAS) as a simulated threat that would be counteracted by our customer’s interceptor capability – vital preparation in the event of a real attack. The team encountered a range of environmental difficulties, including strong winds, high temperatures and dusty conditions that made both flight operations and aircraft recovery more demanding.
Success in challenging environments
Working alongside a partner in challenging conditions provided valuable insights into how aerial threats can be detected, assessed and countered across a variety of operational scenarios. Despite the difficult environmental conditions, the team successfully conducted flight operations and recovered the aircraft with minimal damage, demonstrating both the resilience of the platform and the expertise of the operators. Conducting flight operations and validating the use of interceptors against realistic targets delivered valuable lessons. The training highlighted areas of strength while also identifying opportunities to further enhance our approach and readiness when responding to evolving and unpredictable threats.
In today's increasingly complex threat environment, collaboration is more important than ever. By sharing knowledge, building capability and learning from one another's experiences, we can strengthen preparedness and continue advancing defence capabilities in the face of emerging threats. The training delivered in Jordan showed not only the value of advanced technology, but also the importance of strong partnerships, adaptability and shared expertise in achieving operational success.