From the Source: Right of reply from Saab | ADM March 2015
Katherine Ziesing | Canberra
In July 2014, the Swedish defence company Saab completed the acquisition of Kockums from Germany’s ThyssenKrupp. The integration of Kockums into Saab is now understood to be nearing completion with Saab in full control of the submarine design, build and maintenance in Sweden. Saab has a number of current contracts in the underwater domain, including the new generation submarine A26 for Sweden, as well as a mid-life upgrade to the Gotland class submarines. Saab is developing one of the only new conventional submarine designs in the world, with the first Swedish A26 class submarine to commence sea trials in 2021.
We understand that Saab recently provided the Australian government with an unsolicited proposal for the design and build of 12 new submarines for the Royal Australian Navy under project SEA1000. The proposal is said to draw from the best of Collins, with the injection of the latest available technology from the Swedish A26, including improved stealth technology. Saab has offered a submarine design that would meet contemporary Australian requirements, such as range, endurance, speed of advance, sensor performance and stealth and also proposes an Australian build of the submarines. It is further understood that the proposed schedule would avoid any potential capability gap and that the price is competitive.
Contrary to what has been reported in mainstream media, Saab wants to be involved in the SEA 1000 program and believes that the capability and capacity that now exists within Saab and in Australia, is significantly greater than was the case at the start of the Collins class program in 1987. As the only submarine designer that has designed a submarine for the unique Australian requirements, Saab has previously stated that it considers itself well placed to undertake the SEA1000 project.
With over 25 years’ experience and operations in Australia, Saab has a long history of successfully transferring technology between Sweden and Australia. For SEA 1000, Saab would continue this technology transfer by increasing the capability within its Australian operations, as well as establishing key partnerships in Australia, such as that with the builder. A significant level of other Australian industry content would also be expected throughout the local supply chain via the design and build approach proposed by Saab.
“We would never enter intro a contract we couldn’t deliver,” Dean Rosenfield, Managing Director of Saab Australia said to ADM. “Kockums is under new management in every sense of the word. And the Swedish government is behind us in any partnership effort 100 per cent.”
In terms of recent submarine work, research shows that in the last 5 - 10 years, submarines have been exported from Sweden to Singapore, Stirling Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) engines have been supplied for Japan and upgrades have been performed for Sweden. This combined with the design of the A26 submarines would indicate that there has been significant ongoing submarine design and build work in Sweden.