Saab has received an order from the Government of Canada for the short-range air defence system RBS 70 NG. The order value is approximately CAD 227 million (SEK 1.8 billion) with deliveries starting during 2024.
The deal has been first announced by the Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair at the NATO summit in Brussels on Thursday, February 15th. Canada's CBC reported Canadian Armed Forces have lacked "dedicated air defence to protect ground troops from attack helicopters and fast-moving jets for more than a dozen years" and this purchase will be deployed to the Canadian-led NATO deterrence mission in Latvia against potential Russian aggression in the Baltic states.
The order includes all necessary equipment to operate the RBS 70 NG, including firing units, missiles, transport vehicles, training and support. Following a competitive procurement process, Saab’s offer was chosen to meet the urgent operational requirement for Canada’s Soldier Portable Air Defence System Program. Through this programme, Saab will provide long term air defence support to the Canadian Armed Forces, with a specific focus on their Enhanced Forward Presence in Latvia. As part of its offer, Saab has committed to creating Canadian content through its local office and Canada-based partners and suppliers.
“We are pleased to deliver our proven and efficient air defence solution RBS 70 NG, which is a critical capability for nations in the current environment”, says Saab’s President and CEO Micael Johansson.
RBS 70 NG is a short-range air defence system manufactured by Saab. It is characterised by its unjammable laser-beam guidance and auto-tracking technology. Saab has RBS 70 NG customers globally, including Brazil, the Czech Republic and Latvia.
