Saab’s Barracuda camouflage on the move in the U.S.
With the world facing new threats, Saab's business unit Barracuda is working to ensure that customers in the United States have the advanced camouflage solutions they need.
The world of warfare is constantly evolving. Just a few years ago, the United States Armed Forces were heavily focused on asymmetrical conflicts in desert regions. Now, one of their key ambitions is to prepare for peer-to-peer combat in a wide range of climates and terrains.
As the U.S. military gears up these challenges, Saab’s Barracuda is lending a hand. In response to high levels of interest from U.S. decision makers, Saab is participating in multiple trials throughout 2024, including the Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment (AEWE) in Georgia and the ongoing Project Convergence/Capstone 24 at the National Training Center in California. The goal is to demonstrate how Saab’s advanced camouflage solutions can help save American lives and provide the U.S. with a technological and tactical edge.
"We also know that the Barracuda product line has the high-performing, multispectral solutions that the US Armed Forces need to avoid detection"
Barracuda is world-leading in multispectral products, providing full protection in the entire electromagnetic spectrum such as ultraviolet, visual, near infrared, thermal infrared and radar. Barracuda offers a wide range of tailor-made products for increased survival and force protection in the form of mobile, static and personal camouflage.
“As the U.S. has been transitioning from fighting the War on Terror to preparing for multi-domain operations, we have been receiving a significant number of inquiries about our products,” says Christer Andersson, Director of Marketing & Sales for Saab’s business unit Barracuda. “We know that in the modern battlefield there are more ways than ever before to detect assets, including using drones, satellites and advanced sensors. We also know that the Barracuda product line has the high-performing, multispectral solutions that the U.S. Armed Forces need to avoid detection. And we have been demonstrating this wherever possible.”
Successful demonstrations of Barracuda solutions throughout the U.S.
Interest has been steadily growing in Barracuda systems over the past few years, particularly the Barracuda Mobile Camouflage System (MCS) which helps military vehicles avoid detection both during movement and while in combat. While other manufacturers are still developing mobile systems, the Barracuda MCS is Technology Readiness Level 9 (TRL9) and has been in operation and continual development for more than 25 years. It is combat proven with multiple successful deployments and is trusted by nations across the planet.
One key testing ground for Barracuda systems in the United States is the Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment (AEWE), an annual event in which potential equipment for the U.S. Army is trialed in live exercises. The exercises are staged out of Fort Moore in Georgia and coordinated by the U.S. Army’s Maneuver Battle Lab.
In the AEWE 2023 trials held last year, the Barracuda Soldier System – a lightweight thermal camouflage system for personal use – was assessed. Evaluators provided positive feedback on the system, which is now being further evaluated by the Soldier Enhancement Program (SEP), the Army’s initiative for procuring equipment for dismounted warfighters. Further trials are being carried out in Alaska and Fort Liberty this spring.
Meanwhile, during the AEWE 2024 trials in February this year, an even wider range of Saab’s systems were evaluated. Besides the Soldier System and Mobile Camouflage System, troops participated with Barracuda’s new Frequency Selective Surface (FSS) system. This technology allows warfighters concealed within multispectral nets to communicate using radio signals and access GPS signals without needing to expose themselves by poking out an antenna or GPS receiver. Units from the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Germany took part in the trials.
Steve Simmerer, Director of Marketing and Sales for Saab U.S. notes that “we had excellent results at AEWE 2023, and I think that being selected to come back to AEWE 2024 really speaks to the Army's interest in camouflage and its belief that our product is worthy of further evaluation.”
"...Saab’s Barracuda not only provides extremely advanced products, there’s not another company that can match its wide spectrum of products.”
He adds, “the Army’s FM3-0 field manual published in 2022 refers to the need for signature masking, and camouflage is an important part of that. And Saab’s Barracuda not only provides extremely advanced products, there’s not another company that can match its wide spectrum of products.”
Investment in North America
Another key event where Barracuda systems are being trialed this year is Project Convergence (PC-24), a joint and multinational, two-phase, ‘in-the-dirt’ experiment in March. This was being staged in California at the U.S. Army’s National Training Center at Fort Irwin.
Meanwhile, Saab also expects to cooperate with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command or DEVCOM – the Army’s research laboratory for acquiring capabilities for the future Army.
Saab’s latest efforts to demonstrate the benefits of Barracuda systems follows two major deals that strengthened Barracuda’s position in the region.
In October 2022, Saab signed a preferred-supplier agreement with major U.S. Army vehicle supplier Oshkosh Defense. Cooperation is currently underway on integrating the Barracuda MCS onto the Oshkosh Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). Then in May 2023, it was announced that Saab was partnering with Canadian business Tulmar Safety Systems to produce Barracuda Mobile Camouflage Systems for customers in North America. Tulmar is now assembling MCS units in Ontario using material produced by Saab’s business unit Barracuda in Sweden
Shared values and ambitions
Johan Stjernfeldt, Head of Marketing and Sales at Barracuda, says one of the reasons Saab is a great candidate to supply the U.S. military is the cultural fit. “The U.S. and Sweden have a range of shared values and ambitions,” he says.
“Customers in the US are often great at explaining exactly what they need for different camouflage applications. And I think Saab has an excellent capacity for listening, taking this on board and providing exactly what’s needed.”
Steve Simmerer sums up the recent work of Saab’s business unit Barracuda this way: “We've seen a tremendous resurgence in interest in camouflage and we're excited to be able to support the U.S. market. Saab’s focus is about keeping people and society safe. That's what we're doing. We're helping to keep our warfighters safe with signature masking.”