Saab’s Training as a Service Strengthens Compatibility and Readiness at Michigan’s Northern Strike Exercise
In Michigan’s annual joint multinational exercise, Saab’s training systems assist over 200 partner forces and U.S. military personnel with state-of-the-art training.
Northern Strike, the National Guard Bureau’s largest and longest annual exercise, brought together over 7,500 participants from 36 U.S. states and territories and nine international partners to Michigan’s National All-Domain Warfighting Center (NADWC) from August 2–16, 2025. The exercise is designed to enhance readiness and build interoperability across allied and partner nations.
For the second consecutive year, Saab’s Training as a Service (TaaS) solution played a pivotal role at the exercise, providing a full spectrum of live, virtual and constructive training environments. Saab provided force-on-force training, enabling designated participants to sharpen combat skills in both forested and urban environments, as well as providing comprehensive post-event analysis.
“Northern Strike is a critical opportunity for our allies and armed forces to train together and learn from each other,” said Randy P., MCTIS Site Lead at Saab, Inc. “We’re proud to support this annual exercise with Saab’s Training as a Service solution, which allows trainees and training staff to focus on their core mission: developing the combat skills that make them more lethal to our enemies, more capable for our allies and most importantly, more likely to achieve mission success and return home safely.”
Saab’s Training as a Service leverages GAMER system at Northern Strike
Saab’s TaaS solution leverages the world-leading GAMER system, a modular and scalable platform that includes man-worn and vehicle systems, as well as an Exercise Control (EXCON) center.
Over the course of Northern Strike, Saab provided users with real-time force-on-force events through the EXCON center. EXCON captures and evaluates battlefield events in real time, instantly delivering feedback to unit leaders while simultaneously recording data for comprehensive after-action reviews.
The detailed post-event analysis allows users to review their performance, decision-making processes, and tactical maneuvers. This capability fosters a comprehensive understanding of both individual and unit strengths and weaknesses to facilitate targeted improvements. No other product on the market offers this level of review.
Saab’s TaaS also enables commanders and trainees alike to focus on the mission itself and to maximize limited training time. Traditionally, live combat training required significant infrastructure and support and could only be offered at fixed sites. Saab’s TaaS reimagines this approach by delivering relevant, realistic and highly cost-effective training, nearly erasing the vast “tail” of support, maintenance and fixed infrastructure that the traditional method required.
Saab continues to invest in Michigan’s defense and security capabilities
Since 2024, Saab has supported Michigan’s National Guard through its live training capabilities and is committed to continued investment in Michigan and the U.S. defense industrial base.
In April 2025, Saab broke ground on a new state-of-the-art munitions facility in Grayling, Michigan, which will support domestic production of close combat and precision fire weapon systems while also creating local jobs and bolstering the regional economy.
Saab is proud to contribute to Northern Strike, supporting the exercise’s mission to prepare U.S. and allied forces for the modern battlefield. By combining innovative technologies like TaaS with strategic investments in Michigan, Saab is ensuring U.S. armed forces have the capabilities they need to improve training and achieve mission success.