2004

In 2004 Saab had major success in international sales:

• The U.S. defense placed orders for the Ultra Lightweight Camouflage Net System and the AT4CS anti-tank weapon
• The RBS70 air defense missile was ordered by the Czech Republic, Venezuela, Australia and Latvia
• RBS15 Mk3 anti-ship missile was ordered for the German Navy’s corvettes
• Finland ordered a fire control system for its CV9030 combat vehicles
• The Czech Republic signed an agreement to lease 14 Gripen aircraft
• A contract for series preparation of the IRIS-T air-to-air missile was signed with a German partner.

The consortium of Saab, Nokia and Eltel won the procurement contract for RAKEL, a shared radio communication system for Sweden’s safety and security authorities. Saab also signed a contract with Airbus to supply the A400M.

The SHARC Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Technical Demonstrator performed a successful fully autonomous flight.

During the year Saab also received an order for the data handling system for a new generation of Earth Observation satellites and an order from the Swedish Air Force on an upgrade of the StriC air defense system.

In January 2004 Saab, Patria of Finland and France’s Group SNPE established a leading European propellants and explosives company EURENCO. During the year Saab also acquired 21 percent of Grintek and 100 percent of the Finnish defense corporation Elesco.