Saab opens expanded defence tech centre and HQ

Saab has opened its new expanded Australian headquarters and tech centre following a $22.6 million Modern Manufacturing Initiative grant.

The Saab Sovereign Combat Systems Collaboration Centre (SCSCC), in South Australia, will aid Australia’s development of a sustainable combat systems and defence technology industry.

“The facility will have a primary focus on software development, systems integration, testing and prototyping of our combat systems which are critical to delivering a more capable, integrated and focused Defence Force,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, said.

Saab Australia Managing Director Andy Keough said this is the latest in the company’s long-term investments into the country.

“The Collaboration Centre will be a hub for Saab, our industry and research partners, and Defence, to develop and integrate combat system capabilities at speed to meet the ADF’s operational requirements.

“A core component of ongoing sovereign combat systems capability development is the AusCMS – Australia’s sovereign combat management system.”

AusCMS is a common capability across the Royal Australian Navy surface fleet and will form the Australian Interface for the combat system on the upgraded Hobart-class destroyers and Hunter-class frigates.

It has already been selected for inclusion in nine Hunter class frigates being constructed at Osborne in Adelaide.

According to government figures released during the initial development of the facility, the project is expected to create more than 950 jobs by 2027.

Picture: credit Saab AB