In strategic partnership with SaabUK-based Abbey Group has begun assembling the Barracuda Mobile Camouflage System (MCS) units near Liverpool, North West England.
The partnership promises to deliver camouflage systems for the British Army’s Ajax armored fighting vehicles.
The UK Foreign Office has revised the in-service dates for the Ajax armored vehicle program and Initial Operational Capability (IOC) is expected between July and December 2025 and Full Operational Capability (FOC) is expected between October 2028 and September 2029.
“By establishing production facilities close to our customers, we not only strengthen in-country defense capabilities, but also ensure timely and efficient delivery of critical products,” observes Daniel Nordström, director of marketing and sales at Saab’s Barracuda business unit.
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Abbey Group chief executive Adam Kelly highlights the partnership’s positive impact on local manufacturing and employment opportunities. “This partnership has already created significant job opportunities in the local area, with plans for further expansion,” says Kelly, highlighting the role of partnerships in driving economic development.
Underlining the strategic importance of the deal, Alex Alderson, vice president and land systems manager for Saab in the UK, highlights the potential for future export markets. “The expertise and capabilities demonstrated by the Abbey Group position them as valuable partners in extending our reach beyond domestic requirements,” explains Alderson, hinting at the potential to leverage UK-made camouflage systems into global defenses frames.
In addition to promoting economic development and technological progress, the partnership demonstrates Saab’s commitment to knowledge sharing and technology transfer. With Abbey Group staff trained at Saab’s production facilities in Sweden, the partnership acts as a platform for mutual learning and skills development.
As Saab and the Abbey Group move forward with their partnership, the agreement echoes Saab’s past collaborations to bring Barracuda production closer to customers. With a facility established near Ontario in 2022 to serve North American markets, Saab continues to strengthen its global footprint while nurturing local production.
In the field of defense technology, the collaboration between Saab and the Abbey Group represents a strategic alliance aimed at promoting economic development both locally and globally.
Last year, Saab introduced an improvement to its ultra-light Barracuda variant display, which incorporates Frequency Selective Surface (FSS) technology to allow selected frequencies to penetrate the network while providing multispectral protection.
Read the original at Defence247.gr
