Saab Deputy CEO Details Company's Future

At Saab's annual press trip, Lennard Sindahl, Deputy CEO Saab explained that Saab has grown its product portfolio and is positioned very well: "We feel very strong looking into the future," he said. "We have modern systems we can offer to Poland, the Netherlands,  Singapore,  and Australia. Today the focus has shifted from joint programmes to cooperations and partnerships, e.g. Damen or Boeing."  The latter, according to Sindahl, is an excellent business partnership opportunity to combine existing technology in specific areas: "The work with Boeing has been very smooth in a very short time. When we have succeeded to win T-X, there will be other products in the future. We are currently moving towards the test aircraft."

Lennard Sindahl explained that a design and production contract on A26 submarine with the Swedish government is to be signed in the very near future. "With the A26 we have a good chance of breaking the cost curve of NATO," he said. "We will make sure Kockums is a highly respectable shipyard building high quality technology. The shipyard has the great advantage in its composite technology."

In terms of unmanned systems Sindahl definitely sees market for unmanned systems,  but it is dominated by Israel and the US. Having said that, he mentioned an UAV looking like the GRIPEN could be done. "We focus on developing technologies in unmanned systems,  e.g. MIDCAS.  We also see growth in the offshore market in terms of ROVs."

India is still an extremely important market for Saab's entire product portfolio, according to the deputy CEO: "We have noted Indian PM Modi's Made in India policy, which is something we have shown we can do, as Brazil for example shows. India's Defence Minister recently said the need a single engine fighter like the LCH or another fighter. In India we would need to partner with a very reliable partner."

On other products and developments, Sindahl mentioned Saab has made tremendous developments in the radar world, and that there is more than a handful no potential customers worldwide for the RBS70 NG.