Saab has received a contract to provide component maintenance for the tactical mission system (TMS) installed on-board the Swedish Armed Forces’ NH90 transport helicopters.
Awarded by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), the contract is valued at Skr170m ($19.6m). The company will be responsible for component maintenance of the TMS to ensure full system availability.
In particular, the contract, among other capabilities, will include the helicopter’s sonar system for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missions.
The contract includes a five-year base performance period and an option for one additional year.
Saab support and services business area head Jonas Hjelm said: "This agreement confirms our strength as a support provider who ensures the availability of our products throughout their lifecycle.
"It also confirms our long-standing and good relationships with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration and the Swedish Armed Forces when it comes to their helicopter operations."
Currently, the company is responsible for the provision of support and maintenance of the entire TMS of the NH90 helicopter, designated Helikopter 14 (Hkp 14) in the Swedish service. The system has also been developed by Saab.
Manufactured by NHIndustries, the NH90 is a medium-sized, twin-engine, multi-role military helicopter developed in response to Nato requirements for a battlefield helicopter that can also operate in naval environments.
The Swedish Air Force currently operates eight NH90s, having signed a contract for 18 helicopters, including 13 tactical transport/search and rescue and five ASW variants in 2001.
Component maintenance work under the contract is scheduled to be carried out by a number of foreign subcontractors at the company’s facilities in Jarfalla, Jonkoping, and Linkoping, Sweden.
Image: A Hkp 14 transport helicopter of the Swedish Air Force. Photo: courtesy of Jerry Gunner.
