Saab To Upgrade Swedish Navy Koster-class Mine Counter-measures Vessels

Saab has received an order worth SEK147 million from the Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV) to modify and upgrade two Swedish Navy Koster-class mine countermeasures vessels (MCMVs).

Saab will upgrade and modify of two of Sweden’s Koster-class MCMVs. The contract includes options for additional orders in 2017-2018 amounting to a further SEK139 million, if exercised. Work on the vessels will be undertaken in Karlskrona.

The contract covers mission system modifications and upgrades, upgrade of the propulsion system plus modernisation of CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) detection and protection capabilities.

“Sweden is a world leader in mine countermeasures. We have a long tradition of constructing mine countermeasures vessels with glass fibre hulls. This material not only gives excellent operational capabilities but also provides high availability and low lifecycle costs,” says Gunnar Wieslander, head of Saab business unit Saab Kockums.

The Koster-class MCMVs are part of a series of vessels launched at Karlskronavarvet during the 1980s. They were modified in the beginning of the 2000s to add new capabilities, including remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). Along with traditional mine-hunting, sweeping and clearance tasks, the vessels can also assist in anti-submarine operations.