Saab & Beca Applied Technologies team up for defence work

Saab Systems Pty Ltd of Adelaide and Beca Applied Technologies Ltd of Auckland have announced a strategic alliance for defence systems work in New Zealand.
 
Saab Systems, part of the Swedish Saab Group and Beca Applied Technologies, part of the Beca Group of companies have been collaborating over the past year exploring opportunities to work together in the defence market.  They have identified a number of areas where their skills are complementary and where there are emerging needs within defence in New Zealand. 

This includes projects such as the Joint Command and Control System required by the NZDF and currently being progressed by the Ministry of Defence and other initiatives under review by the Ministry of Defence, such as the Self Defence Upgrade of the ANZAC Class Frigates.

Mr. Mervyn Davis, Managing Director of Saab Systems said “Saab is pleased to be entering into this alliance to assist its ongoing operations in New Zealand which will give Saab additional management and support capability.  It is our practice to form a mutually beneficial alliance with a partner holding similar skills, capabilities and culture.”

“This agreement will cover the design, development, sale, delivery and support of products and services in New Zealand,” said Mr. Davis.

Beca Group Ltd Executive Director, and Beca Applied Technologies Chairman, Mr. Robert Durrant, said “Beca has a long history of forming alliances with technology partners to service the New Zealand market.  This alliance with Saab is consistent with this approach and enhances our ability to support our defence clients.”

Saab systems developed the Combat Management System which has been successfully deployed in the ANZAC Class Frigates of the Royal New Zealand Navy since 1996.  The company has also been supporting the long term logistics support for the combat system elements on the RNZN ANZAC Class.  The Battlefield Command Support System has also been under evaluation by the Army for a number of years.

Beca Applied Technologies is a specialist technology consultant to defence and commercial customers, specialising in business and IT consulting, systems and software engineering, and simulation-based analysis.  Beca Applied Technologies has provided a range of services to the Royal New Zealand Navy and the wider Beca Group is involved in some significant defence infrastructure and facilities projects.    

12 December 2006