Back to news

December 7, 2018 | International, Aerospace

Saab puts marketing effort for Swordfish maritime plane on hiatus

By:

BANGKOK — Over the past two years, Swedish aircraft manufacturer Saab has put its advertising muscle into promoting a maritime patrol aircraft it called Swordfish.

But in the absence of a launch customer and no immediate sales prospects, the company is ending its marketing campaign — at least for now, the head of its Asia-Pacific business said Thursday.

“From a product perspective, we are no longer marketing it. So it was a concept. It was an opportunity that we looked at on the back of GlobalEye, and we're just concentrating on GlobalEye,” Dean Rosenfield said in a roundtable with journalists in Saab's Bangkok office.

Defense News traveled to Thailand the week of Nov. 26 to learn more about the country's air warfare capabilities, accepting airfare and accommodations from Saab.

Swordfish was initially conceived as a derivative of Saab's GlobalEye airborne early warning aircraft. Both are based on Bombardier's Global 6000 airframe and contain a suite of cutting-edge sensors, with Swordfish also adding torpedoes, sonobuoys, anti-ship missiles, an acoustics processor and a magnetic anomaly detector.

But while GlobalEye has landed a launch customer in the United Arab Emirates, Swordfish is still looking for a buyer.

Saab hoped to position Swordfish as a lower-cost alternative to Boeing's P-8 Poseidon, which is used by the U.S. Navy to hunt submarines and conduct surveillance over open waters. The firm targeted a handful of international countries who had expressed interest in upgrading their legacy maritime surveillance inventories.

One such country was South Korea, which was looking for up to six additional aircraft to augment its fleet of Lockheed Martin P-3 Orions.

In March, one Saab official told Defense News that — should South Korea chose Swordfish as its future maritime patrol aircraft — the company was prepared to allow South Korea to have a hand in producing the aircraft, with the first few aircraft being produced in Sweden and the rest assembled in South Korea.

Saab had responded to South Korean requests for more information about Swordfish, Rosenfield said. But in June the country decided to award a sole-source contract valued at about $1.7 billion to Boeing for the P-8 Poseidon, eschewing the Swordfish and Airbus' C295.

In July, another sales opportunity for Swordfish was dashed, when New Zealand announced that it would buy up to four P-8s to replace its P-3s.

Rosenfield said that even if Saab wasn't successful in the Korean competition, the company's efforts may still prove fruitful as it goes forward marketing its GlobalEye early warning plane.

“But the good thing about what we did there is that it gave us great recognition — brand recognition — particularly as we were marketing a GlobalEye capability like what we are delivering to the UAE,” he said. “That's where we see it going.”

Rosenfield said there may be opportunities in the future to resurrect the Swordfish sales initiative.

“If there is a customer who has a need for a maritime patrol aircraft, like Singapore for example, and they are prepared to invest in the technology to take something that hasn't been delivered before to a first customer, then we're happy to entertain that discussion,” he said.

But currently, “the product, per se, doesn't exist in the Saab portfolio,” he added.

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2018/11/30/saab-puts-marketing-effort-for-swordfish-maritime-plane-on-hiatus

On the same subject

  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - August 21, 2019

    August 22, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - August 21, 2019

    AIR FORCE The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a $999,000,000 (ceiling) indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for A-10 wing replacements. This contract provides for up to 112 new A-10 wing assemblies and up to 15 wing kits. Work will be performed at multiple subcontractor locations in the U.S. and one subcontractor location in South Korea and is expected to be complete by Aug. 23, 2030. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. Fiscal 2017, 2018 and 2019 procurement funds in the amount of $239,578,025 and are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8202-19-D-0004). Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Herndon, Virginia, is being awarded a $20,000,000 (estimated) indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for engineering services. This contract provides for engineering services on all of Northrop designed platforms managed by the 424th Supply Chain Management Squadron at Tinker Air Force Base. The location of performance is Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, and the ordering period will end August 2021. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. No funds will be obligated at time of award. The Air Force Sustainment Center, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (FA8119-19-D-0002). NAVY Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, is awarded a $190,523,870 fixed-price-incentive firm and firm-fixed-price modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-19-C-5418 for materials and spares in support of fiscal 2019 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2 low-rate initial production requirements. This contract will procure the remaining materials in support of the ESSM fiscal 2019 low-rate initial production Lots One through Three all-up rounds and spares requirements. The ESSM program is an international cooperative effort to design, develop, test and procure ESSM missiles. The ESSM provides enhanced ship defense. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (50%); Richmond, Australia (6%); Raufoss, Norway (6%); Andover, Massachusetts (5%); Mississauga, Canada (4%); Ottobrunn, Germany (3%); Hengelo Ov, Netherlands (3%); Grand Rapids, Michigan (3%); San Jose, California (2%); Ottawa, Canada (2%); Aranjuez, Spain (2%); San Diego, California (2%); Koropi Attica, Greece (2%); Hopewell Junction, New York (1%); Ankara, Turkey (1%); Westlake Village, California (1%); Eight Mile Plains, Brisbane, Australia (1%); Grenaa, Denmark (1%); Torrance, California (1%); Canton, New York (1%); Minneapolis, Minnesota (1%); and other locations below one percent (2%), and is expected to be completed by March 2023. Non-expiring other funds; fiscal 2019 and 2018 weapons procurement (Navy); and fiscal 2018 and 2017 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $200,620,992 will be obligated at time of award, and funding in the amount of $105,890 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. General Dynamics-Ordnance and Tactical Systems Inc., Williston, Vermont, is awarded a $20,780,430 modification P00005 to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-18-C-1023). This modification provides for procurement of 66 M61A2 20 MM Gun Systems in support of F/A-18E/F aircraft production for the Navy (34); and the government of Kuwait (32). Work will be performed in Saco, Maine (41%); Westfield, Massachusetts (7%); Lyndonville, Vermont (6%); Miami, Florida (6%); Charlotte, North Carolina (6%); Chicago, Illinois (5%); Jacksonville, Florida (4%); St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin (3%); Saint Laurent, Canada (2%); Port Hueneme, California (2%); and various locations within the continental U.S. (18%), and is expected to be completed in March 2023. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy); and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) funds in the amount of $20,780,430 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Navy ($10,703,798; 52%); and the government of Kuwait ($10,076,632; 48%) under the FMS program. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Charlottesville, Virginia, is awarded $15,750,807 for firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order N00024-19-F-5201 on previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract N00024-15-D-5208 to exercise a one-year option for the production Ring Laser Gyro Navigation (RLGN) System, provisioned items and associated technical program support of the Navy's WSN-7 navigation system. The AN/WSN-7(V) RLGN system is a self-contained inertial navigator designed for Navy surface ships. Work will be performed in Charlottesville, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by July 2021. Fiscal 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy); and fiscal 2019 and 2018 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $15,750,807 will be obligated at time of award, and $3,885,984 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. HII Mission Driven Innovative Solutions Inc., Huntsville, Alabama, is awarded a $15,604,482 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to exercise Option Period Two under previously awarded contract M95494-17-F-0021. The work to be performed provides Headquarters Marine Corps, Plans, Policies and Operations; and Marine Corps Installations Command with technical and engineering support for the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High-Yield Explosive Consequence Management Program. Work will be performed in Arlington, Virginia, and is expected to be completed August 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $2,786,006 will be obligated at the time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps Installations Command Headquarters Contracting Office, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Sonalysts Inc., Waterford, Connecticut, is awarded a $9,440,639 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to the German navy for the maintenance of the Dangerous Waters Naval Simulator to meet its simulation and training requirements, including proper levels of integration and interoperability. This contract includes purchases to Federal Republic of Germany under the Foreign Military Sales program. Work will be performed in Wilhelmshaven, Germany (50%); Virginia Beach, Virginia (25%); and San Diego, California (25%); and is expected to be complete by August 2023. Foreign Military Sales Federal Republic of Germany funding in the amount of $1,173,145 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1 - only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00178-19-D-4500). ARMY The Boeing Co., Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a $145,892,870 modification (P00037) to Foreign Military Sales (Netherlands) contract W58RGZ-16-C-0023 for the remanufacture of 11 aircraft and new build Longbow Crew Trainer and spares. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Mesa, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of March 29, 2024. Fiscal 2010 Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $145,892,870 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Herndon, Virginia, was awarded a $101,102,078 modification (P00037) to contract W58RGZ-17-C-0014 for contractor logistics support services. Work will be performed in Herndon, Virginia, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 31, 2020. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $34,036,607 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Widman Inc.,* Godfrey, Illinois, was awarded a $30,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for upper river land repair. Bids were solicited via the internet with seven received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 20, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis, Missouri, is the contracting activity (W912P9-19-D-0012). MW Builder's Inc., Pflugerville, Texas, was awarded a $28,777,000 firm-fixed-price contract for design build construction and renovation to barracks. Bids were solicited via the internet with 11 received. Work will be performed in Fort Riley, Kansas, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $28,777,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City, Missouri, is the contracting activity (W912DQ-19-C-4015). Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, was awarded a $23,995,308 modification (P00005) to contract W31P4Q-19-C-0021 for acquisition of a production contract for signal data processor kits for Sentinel A3 radars. Work will be performed in Fullerton, California, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2021. Fiscal 2019 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $23,995,308 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Widman Inc.,* Godfrey, Illinois, was awarded a $15,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for lower river land repair. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 20, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis, Missouri, is the contracting activity (W912P9-19-D-0013). Raytheon Co., Marlborough, Massachusetts, was awarded a $14,052,864 modification (P00025) to contract W58RGZ-17-C-0070 for engineering services labor, travel, and material. Work will be performed in Marlborough, Massachusetts, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 24, 2020. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. BAE Systems Land and Armaments, San Jose, California, was awarded a $13,688,402 modification (P00108) to contract W56HZV15-C-0099 for active protection system integration and urgent material release in support of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Work will be performed in San Jose, California, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2020. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $13,688,402 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity. Ameresco Inc., Washington, District of Columbia, was awarded a $7,140,290 firm-fixed-price contract for the installation of a natural gas driven reciprocating engine combined heat and power system, associated pumps, controls, interconnect fees and civil mechanical electrical upgrades. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 1, 2020. Fiscal 2017 military construction funds in the amount of $7,140,290 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City, Missouri, is the contracting activity (W912DQ-19-C-4014). CORRECTION: A $32,753,836 contract announced on Aug. 20, 2019, to DynCorp International LLC, McLean, Virginia (W560MY-19-C-0002), to train, advise and assist, was not awarded on that date. It will be awarded today, Aug. 21, 2019, with an adjusted estimated completion date of Aug. 18, 2020. All other information in the announcement is correct. *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/1940606/source/GovDelivery/

  • Contracts for May 5, 2021

    May 6, 2021 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Contracts for May 5, 2021

    Today

  • New US Army radios show anti-jam progress at network experiment

    September 22, 2020 | International, Land, C4ISR

    New US Army radios show anti-jam progress at network experiment

    Andrew Eversden WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army is seeing improvements in anti-jam capabilities in new radios crucial to securing manned-unmanned communications at its annual Network Modernization Experiment. At NetModX '20, which runs from late July to early October at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey, the Army's Combat Capabilities Development Command's C5ISR Center — or Command, Control, Communication, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Center — is testing the resiliency of the new radios. The effort will help the service observe how they would perform in the field as the Army looks to partner humans and machines. Initial data from the event suggests the two companies involved — Silvus and Persistent Systems — have improved their radio capabilities from last year, specifically in regard to anti-jam, according to Daniel Duvak, chief of the C5ISR Center's Radio Frequency Communications division. But one major challenge is making the radios less detectable as the Army's tactical network team starts to focus on command post survivability — or reducing the electromagnetic signature of command post communications — while not sacrificing latency and throughput. “If you want to make it less detectable, you know oftentimes you have to trade off the throughput or the range or one of those other products,” Duvak said. “So that's the piece and the real technical challenge that they're continuing to work on over the next few months. We've seen progress that they've made in those areas, but that's the piece that they're still working on.” Robert Stevens, an electronics engineer at the Radio Frequency Communications division, told C4ISRNET that the radios are an important piece of the next-generation combat vehicle. And Duvak said the Army's tactical network modernization team — made up of the Network Cross-Functional Team and Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications-Tactical — wants to use the radios as a mid-tier radio solution. The development and fielding of new science and technology projects can take more than five years; however, the Army wants to speed that up as it seeks to modernize systems in preparation for future conflicts with near-peer adversaries. At last year's Network Modernization Experiment, the C5ISR Center tested several vendors' radios to see where commercial technology stood. Alternative contracting options, like broad agency announcements as well as cooperative research and development agreements, have proved critical to quickening radio development. Under the contracting mechanisms, vendors and the Army have more flexibility to experiment with radios and make iterative modifications as requirements change. Duvak said this is different from how the Army did business years ago, when it would award yearslong contracts but eventually receive radios that no longer met current requirements. “What we were able to do at this program was, in just about a year and a half of development time, take a couple of those products that we saw that were very promising and we were able to add and actually fund vendors to enhance those radios with those resiliency features that we were just talking about for the contested environment,” Duvak said. “Things like making them anti-jam, or more difficult for the adversary to jam, making them more difficult for the adversary to detect or intercept our communications.” Duvak said the Army wants the new radio capabilities for Capability Set '23, a collection of new tactical network tools to be fielded to soldiers in fiscal 2023. The resiliency of communications is critical as the tactical network modernization team pivots to reduce the electronic signature of the service's command post under Capability Set '23. The team is looking to increase bandwidth and reduce latency as part of that set of tools. Preliminary design review for Capability Set '23 is scheduled for April next year. https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/it-networks/2020/09/21/new-us-army-radios-show-anti-jam-progress-at-network-experiment/

All news