Croatia to use Saab’s coastal surveillance system

Defence and security company Saab announced January 20 that it will supply a coastal surveillance and border protection system to Croatia.

According to Saab, the system is scheduled to be operational by June 2016.

The coastal surveillance system will provide real-time information from radar sensors, long range and thermal closed circuit television cameras plus Automatic Identification System (AIS). The sensors are deployed at strategic sites along the coastline and will be connected to several control centres.

Croatian Ministry of Interior Border Police will operate the system which is an extension of the country’s existing coastal surveillance system delivered by Saab in 2010 used by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure.

Anders Carp, head of Saab business unit Traffic Management within Saab business area Electronic Defence Systems, said: “The success of our maritime coastal surveillance and border protection systems continues. We are proud that Croatia continues to trust our systems, as shown by this extension of its capabilities with Saab. It is a testament to the effectiveness and reliability of the surveillance system that protects Croatia’s borders.”

Saab says the system will detect, identify, track and monitor vessels at a distance of up to 100 km, while providing operators with an accurate maritime situational picture on a 24/7 basis. The system will help the Ministry of Interior to protect its sea borders from all threats and intruders.

The company will cooperate with a local company, Končar – Engineering Co. for Plant Installation & Commissioning Inc., to perform the installations and be responsible for the communication infrastructure, local maintenance and support. In total, the project includes works at 40 different sites, some of them on remote islands only accessible by helicopter.