Saab wins new order for underwater vehicles to the Finnish Navy
Saab Underwater Systems receives an order for underwater vehicles designated for the Finnish Navy’s new mine hunting vessels. The value of the order, including options, exceeds SEK 80 million. The procurer is the German company Atlas Elektronik, which will integrate the systems on the vessels. The Double Eagle Systems are remotely operated underwater vehicles, and used by navies all over the world for mine hunting and other operations.
“It is a great pleasure that we once again win an order for Double Eagle to yet another new MCM (Mine Countermeasures) program. After a very thorough evaluation, the Finnish Navy has decided to choose the Double Eagle systems for their new MCMV 2010 vessels,” says Lars Tossman, CEO of Saab Underwater Systems.
“The Finnish Navy has extensive experience and knowledge of mine hunting. Since the middle of the 1990s, when they bought their first Double Eagle system, they have furthermore achieved genuine understanding of the usefulness of remotely operated underwater vehicles. This order displays a continued confidence in our ability, and is furthermore a very important recognition of the Double Eagle system’s capacity and potential for further development,” Lars Tossman continues.
In addition to the supply of the Double Eagle systems, the agreement includes an interface for a new generation of sensor systems. The systems that will be delivered will also be possible for further upgrades, in order to be operated as Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV).
“We are the world leader in remotely operated underwater vehicles for mine hunting – i.e. detection, localization, classification and destruction of naval mines. We have delivered underwater vehicles to several navies over the years, and are currently delivering to Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark.”
“This order is particularly important since the Finnish Navy’s new mine hunting vessels will be assigned to very important national and international missions, especially within the MCM area. This is not least the case in the Baltic Sea, where the amount of left-over naval mines and also other environmental threats is extensive,” Tossman continues.
Saab Underwater Systems is one of the world leaders in the area of underwater systems, with special focus on littoral, shallow and difficult underwater environments. The company focuses on sensor systems, precision engagement systems, remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles, i.e. ROVs and AUVs.