In 2007, Saab acquired Seaeye Holdings Ltd in Fareham to enhance its product portfolio in underwater robotics. In 2011, Saab consolidated parts of its Swedish production and development of underwater drones and moved the operations to Fareham. Sweden has previously ordered ten Seaeye Falcon units.
The operations at the new facility will focus on the production and integration of Saab's new configuration of the Giraffe 1X radar system, called Deployment Set. This means that Saab is increasing the production capacity for the radar. The manufacturing of the first units is already underway, the company writes.
The Giraffe 1X Deployment Set was launched earlier this week ahead of the major defence exhibition DSEI in London, which Defence Sector News previously reported on. The new configuration differs from previous ones by being easy to transport and quick to deploy. The company states that it will have a search volume of 75 kilometres.
The British Armed Forces already utilise Saab's Giraffe 1X radar system, the Giraffe AMB air defence radar, and the Arthur artillery locating system. In the long term, the operations will also be expanded to conduct maintenance and service of the British Armed Forces' existing radar systems, the company writes.
- Opening our new production facility in Fareham is the latest step in Saab's growth in the United Kingdom. We are not only creating jobs but also contributing to a new domestic capability for the British defence industry, says Dean Rosenfield, Head of Saab UK, in the press release.