Saab Australia expects that the local design and manufacture of its combat management system Multi Function Consoles (MFC) will provide up to $25 million in revenue opportunities to its Australian SME partners and a pathway to global supply chains.
Saab Australia Managing Director, Andy Keough, said Saab’s locally designed and manufactured MFCs will be exported into defence programs across the globe.
“Working closely with Australian industry, academia and end-users, our Adelaide based hardware team fully designed and developed a new console. We have established a highly capable local supply chain to manufacture a now globally leading combat management system MFC,” Keough said.
“Together, we’re supporting the growth of Australia’s sovereign defence industry and in-country capability, and with Saab’s expanding portfolio of high-tech global export programs we will continue to provide opportunities for our local industry partners, as well as strong pathways into global supply chains.”
Saab began the design and development of a new generation of MFCs in 2018 to support the requirements of Australia’s newest surface fleet, and Saab’s design and integration of the Situational Awareness System (SAS) for the Arafura Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) Program.
Saab says the new console design 'balances technical requirements, time and cost efficiency with operational effectiveness and sustainability' – made possible by partnerships with local industry, including Applidyne for specialist engineering, and with academia through Saab’s partnership with the University of South Australia and their Human Factors and Ergonomic studies.
After successful capability testing and demonstration, this new generation of MFC is now being manufactured in country by SAGE Automation.
Saab says that while this capability previously only existed in Sweden, the in-country design and manufacture of the MFCs now represent over 60 per cent Australian industry content, with the remaining 40 per cent representing Saab’s design and personnel expertise in Australia.
Whilst the new generation MFC was initially developed for the Australian OPV, over the coming years Saab expects to export more than 125 units.