Saab Receives Order for Arthur Weapon Locating System Upgrade for Norway

Saab AB (STO:SAABB)

Defence and security company Saab has received an order from the Norwegian Defence Logistic Organisation (NDLO) for a prototype of Mid-Life Upgrade of their current Arthur weapon-location radar system. The order amounts to approximately SEK115 million.

Arthur (ARTillery HUnting Radar) is a radar system that locates enemy artillery fire and determines the weapon position with high accuracy. The Norwegian Army took Arthur into service in 1999 integrated on a Hägglunds BV-206 tracked vehicle designed to support light infantry brigades.

The recent order includes upgrading the sensor to Saab’s current production version of Arthur (ModC), development of new Command, Control and Communication functions and integration in a new 10ft container. The container has ISO corners for easy and flexible use on many vehicle types. The Norwegian Army will use M113F4 Armoured Tracked Vehicle as the main carrier for Arthur.

The sensor upgrade will significantly improve the detection range and accuracy, increase the operational flexibility and provide mobility and protection in a highly mobile manoeuvre warfare environment. Delivery will take place in 2017.

"We are very happy that the Norwegian Forces take the step to the latest version of Arthur, which ensures the best possible radar for this application,” says Anders Linder, head of Saab business unit Surface Radar Solutions.

The contract is signed between Saab Technologies Norway AS and NDLO. The development and production of this prototype will be done at Saab in Halden, Norway, and Gothenburg, Sweden.

Saab has for more than 30 years developed and produced radar systems in Halden, Norway for regional and global customers. Recently Saab decided to locate its new Centre of Excellence for Long Range Air Surveillance radars in Halden. This is an important step in a competence build towards a new market segment where Saab in Halden will play a key and leading role.

"This is an important step in strengthening Saabs presence in Norway building on the development of Arthur back in the nineties, which were done within Saab in both Sweden and Norway,” says Dag Wikören, head of Saab Marketing & Sales in Norway.

Arthur is a combat proven Weapon Locating System used by many customers around the world in addition to Norway, including Sweden, United Kingdom, Greece, the Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, Republic of Korea and others.

The operational use of the system range from Counter Battery Operations and Fire Control of own artillery weapons to providing protection of own forces and civilians by suppressing enemy artillery weapons and/or provide warning for incoming fire. The latter is especially valuable in Peace Support Operations.

Arthur utilizes a passive phased-array antenna technology for optimized performance in an electronic warfare environment. The well proven technology provides the best balance between mobility, range, accuracy, Electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM), operational availability and life-cycle cost.

Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions within military defence and civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents around the world. Through innovative, collaborative and pragmatic thinking, Saab develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs.

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