Saab, DRB-Hicom Sign New Industrial Co-operation Pact

By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah

SINGAPORE, Jan 13 (Bernama) -- Defence and security company, Saab, has signed a new industrial co-operation agreement on Gripen fighter aircraft with Defence Technologies Sdn Bhd (Deftech), a wholly-owned unit of DRB HICOM Bhd.

In a statement Tuesday, head of Saab Malaysia, Thomas Linden, said the agreement covered Gripen-related maintenance and support activities, design and manufacturing of advanced composite systems and associated technology transfer.

"For Saab, the agreement with Deftech is an important step in doing further business in Malaysia and surrounding countries.

"Besides supporting the Malaysian government's defence programmes with solutions that enhances the nation's operational capabilities, the new agreement would also create business opportunities for both parties," Linden said.

He said in 2011, the two companies signed an industrial co-operation teaming agreement to collaborate on an airborne early warning and control system.

"This co-operation was further expanded in March 2013 with a memorandum of understanding covering various technology areas," he said.

Saab has a long history of supplying high-performance, cost-efficient defence equipment to the Malaysian Armed Forces.

This includes naval and land radars, airborne self-protection systems for helicopters and fighter aircraft, naval command and control systems and army support weapons, including anti-tank weapons.

-- BERNAMA

Bernama Newswire