Saab receives British Army training order

Defence and security company Saab has received an order from the UK MoD to provide Counter-IED (Counter-Improvised Explosive Device*) training for the British Army in the UK and abroad. The duration of the contract is 1 year and the order sum amounts to approximately MSEK 120 (app. £ 11 million).

“Saab has developed a new modular training system to meet the evolving need to train troops in counter-IED. The system will be used prior to and on operations in remote environments with embedded personnel. I am fully convinced that this capability will save lives,” says Gunilla Fransson Head of business area Security and Defence Solutions within Saab.

Saab will employ its newly developed instrumented training system called ATES C-IED to deliver the training. ATES C-IED is a fully instrumented tactical engagement system developed to meet the training needs of current and future improvised explosive devices threats and the wider aspects of counter insurgency. Saab will provide a managed training service with field teams comprising subject matter experts to support the use of ATES C-IED and delivery of post-action analysis. The system supports the rapid adaptation of TTP:s (Tactics, Techniques and Procedures) and equipment necessary for units to remain “steps ahead” of potential adversaries.

In September 2009, Saab and the UK MoD started to address a critical need which would help enable the British Army to address the C-IED threat more effectively. By December 2009, Saab recognized that most of the training and evaluation capability already existed. The shortfall was based on the need for objective evidence about the use of the Hand Held Metal Detectors. By using existing technology in an innovative manner, Saab was able to integrate a prototype module in less than 53 days. With a better understanding of the need the MoD were able to set a Concept Demonstrator Demonstration contract on Saab. Over the months of September and early October 2010, Saab trained 1612 personnel from 16 Air Assault Brigade before their deployment on operations.

* An improvised explosive device is a homemade bomb, frequently used by terrorist or guerilla forces. The Counter-IED training is aimed at preparing the soldiers for finding such devices and rendering them harmless.

Source: Saab

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