Saab receives order from Thailand for Chakri Naruebet Aircraft Carrier C2 system upgrade

: Posted On Friday, 27 April 2012 09:34

Naval Forces, Industry News - Thailand, Sweden

Saab receives order from Thailand for Chakri Naruebet Aircraft Carrier C2 system upgrade

The defence and security company Saab has received an order from the Royal Thai Navy for the upgrading of the command and control system on the aircraft carrier H.T.M.S. Chakri Naruebet. The order amounts to MSEK 180.

The contract involve upgrading the aircraft carrier with the latest generation of command and control system, 9LV Mk4. Saab will also supply data-link equipment to the ship, which will allow communication between the ship and the Royal Thai Air Force’s Gripen fighter aircraft and the airborne radar system Erieye, carried by the Saab 340 AEW.

“Saab will further strengthen its position as supplier to the Royal Thai Navy through the upgrade of the command and control system on the Navy's flagship. Saab is now on the Navy's three major vessels and with links to the Royal Thai Air Force's Gripen and Erieye, capabilities and resources can used more efficiently,” says Gunilla Fransson, Head of Saab’s Business Area Security and Defence Solutions.

HTMS Chakri Naruebet aircraft carrier, flagship of the Royal Thai Navy
(picture: US Navy)

Saab is the main contractor to the Royal Thai Navy, and as well as supply of its own systems, its tasks will include procurement of third-party systems and responsibility for integration of all existing and new systems.

“This is the second 9LV Mk4 contract signed between the Royal Thai Navy and Saab. It further strengthens Saab's position in the country, which we are proud of,” says Gunilla Fransson.

The contract mainly concerns the Security and Defence Solutions business area as
the supplier of the command and control system. The Electronic Defence Systems business area will supply the Sea Giraffe AMB surveillance radar system as well as data-link equipment for communication with Gripen and the Erieye airborne early warning systems.

The contract will run between 2012 and 2015.

Based on the Spanish Navy's Principe de Asturias design and constructed by Spanish shipbuilder Bazán, Chakri Naruebet was ordered in 1992, launched in 1996, and commissioned into the Royal Thai Navy in 1997.