Article Posted on : - Jul 02, 2010

Rauma class missile boat of Finnish Navy. A file photo.

STOCKHOLM (BNS): Finnish Navy has awarded an approx $28 million (MSEK 220) contract to Saab for upgrading the combat management and fire-control systems of its Rauma class missile boats.

The contract also includes an industrial cooperation agreement between Saab and Finnish Navy.

"With this order, we are extending our already firm and long partnership with the Finnish Navy, while also broadening and deepening our experience of developing and integrating naval command and control systems," Gunilla Fransson, Head of the Security and Defence Solutions business area at Saab, said in a company news release.

Finnish Navy has received the ‘Rauma class missile boats’ at the beginning of the 1990s. The vessels will now undergo a mid life improvement with Saab, which will perform as a sub-contractor to Patria Aviation.

Saab is upgrading the vessels' combat management and fire-control systems to 9LV Mk4, the fourth generation naval command and control system.

Navy plans for the completely upgraded vessels to have the operational readiness by the beginning of 2014.

Saab AB will begin the work on the system by August 2010, and will deliver the first system to the Finnish Navy by November 2012.

The company has scheduled the delivery of the remaining three systems by 2013.