History of Saab Systems in Australia

The company formed in 1988 as an extensive technology and skill transfer project from Sweden to Australia. That project was a $400m combat system integration contract for the Royal Australian and New Zealand Navy ANZAC ship project.

The ANZAC Ship Project

In 1995, the company delivered the fully operational shipboard and shore-based systems for the ANZAC class ships on time and on budget, establishing a defence industry record for such a complex project. In 1998 Saab won the in-service support contract for the combat system.

Land Ahead

In 1992 the company was appointed prime system integrator for AUSTACSS – the Australian Army Command Support System.

Six years later, the Army chose Saab (then CelsiusTech Australia) as the prime system integrator for their Battlefield Command Support System (BCSS). The Battlefield Command Support System evolved from the AUSTACCS system, to manage the flow of information between Army formations in the field. This made-to-order solution was designed to cope with continuous development, meeting the Army's changing requirements and keep pace with emerging technologies. The system was first deployed in Timor in 1999 with positive reviews.

Supporting ANZAC

Saab was awarded a $25 Million contract to maintain and upgrade the ANZAC ships’ combat systems. ANZAC Ship work focuses on major enhancements for the ANZAC fleet including adding two new missiles and a major anti-submarine warfare upgrade.

Keeping Track of Underwater Mines

Saab System's first major export contract was for the development of a mine warfare command support system for the Turkish Naval Forces Command, delivered in 2000. Providing excellent feedback and reporting complete customer satisfaction, the Turkish Navy had the system upgraded in 2005.

Emerging Technology Submerges

Saab has been involved in ship control systems since the 1970s, when Saab designed and fielded its first one-man "swim-by-wire" submarine steering system for the Royal Swedish Navy. This has since led to the full integration of platform management and based on this concept, Saab was awarded the contract to supply the integrated ship control, management and monitoring system for the Royal Australian Navy's COLLINS class submarines — a most successful component of the COLLINS project. The responsibility for this technology and related products within the Saab group was transferred to Saab Systems in Australia during 2001.

Army Systems Support

In 2002 Saab won a support system contract to refurbish and upgrade the Army's Field Repair Facility — 12 field deployable containers used for servicing combat net radios.