Saab contracts Polish yard for Swedish Navy SIGINT vessel work

Polish Nauta Shiprepair Yard, a part of the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), will build the ship platform for the Swedish Navy’s special purpose Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) vessel.

Earlier this month, Saab announced a SEK730 million (approx. $80.6M) contract with the Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV) for design, construction and delivery of a special purpose ship.

The Swedish company now announced that the ship platform will be constructed, launched and tested at the Polish shipyard Nauta in Gdynia. The ship will then sail to Saab’s shipyard in Karlskrona, Sweden for fitting of the signal intelligence equipment and final sea acceptance test (SAT).

Saab added that the contract is a result of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Saab and Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ), the biggest Polish defence company, which was signed in October 2016.

“I am very pleased how we have turned the initial intentions in the MoU into a tangible business with PGZ. Special purpose ships of this kind require both high availability and reliability. In Nauta we have found a partner who can contribute in delivering a modern solution to our customer,” said Gunnar Wieslander, head of Saab business area Kockums.

“For the Nauta Shiprepair Yard participation in construction of this ship will represent an opportunity for further dynamic growth by increasing our shipbuilding portfolio, not only on the domestic arena. As Nauta we have access to a skilled workforce, needed infrastructure and have accumulated long term experience in maritime projects,” Slawomir Latos, the chairman of the Nauta Shiprepair Yard, commented.