Defence and security company Saab has received three orders to supply self- protection equipment for the German Air Force’s Tornado fleet.

The orders are part of an ongoing development and production order which started in 2009, amounting to R150-million.

A second production order is expected from Germany in the second quarter of 2014.

Although the main order has been placed with Saab Electronic Defence System, in Sweden, Saab’s South African subsidiary, Saab Grintek Defence, will provide the key components and elements of the total solution.

“The duration of the contracts depends on the specific deliverables; in the case of the most recent orders, it will probably be between 12 and 18 months,” says Saab Grintek Defence head of marketing and sales Chris Skinner.

He notes that the contracts entail certification and limited production of the BOZ-101 EC podded self-protection system, including the MAW-300 missile-approach warning system and the development and qualification of a new cockpit control unit for the pod.

“The pods sold to Germany have a missile- approach warning system, controller and dispenser,” comments Skinner, adding that Saab Grintek Defence, based in Centurion, manufactured the missile-approach warning system and controllers, while Saab, based in Jarfalla, Sweden, completed the outer pod that houses the MAW-300 system and the dispenser module.

He notes that the core of the MAW-300-based protection systems to be used on the Tornado fleet has been developed and manufactured in South Africa and is part of Saab Grintek’s Integrated Defensive Aids Suite (IDAS).

“The fact that the German Luftwaffe selected this product is testimony to our innovation and the high technical standards we subscribe to at Saab,” Skinner points out.

He says Saab is also expecting a follow-up order from the Italian Air Force, which has been using a version of the pod, the BOZ-102 EC, on its Tornados since 2008.

Saab Grintek was awarded additional follow-on orders in September to continue to supply its IDAS self-protection system to India’s Dhruv Advanced light helicopter. The Dhruv’s manufacturer, Hindustan Aeronautics, is also manufacturing helicopters for the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.

“Deliveries on the latest follow-up order are scheduled to begin this year,” Skinner says, adding that India is one of Saab Grintek Defence’s most significant customers to date.

He says Saab is looking for a partner to complete the development of the LEDS 150 active protection system for land vehicles.

“Owing to the complexity of and state-of-the-art technology used in the manufacturing process, the development of the LEDS 150 is a research and development resource-intensive programme, hence the need for an investment partner,” he explains.

Skinner states that Saab is negotiating with two potential European partners and is hoping for a firm commitment from either partner in the next six months, otherwise the company may have to hibernate the programme.