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C-IED SUCCESS FOR SAAB

Saab's new C-IED training system for the British Army.

The newly styled Defence and security company Saab, formerly Saab Training Systems, has received an order from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to provide Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) training for the British Army in the UK and abroad. The duration of the contract is one year and the order is valued at $18 million.

“Saab has developed a new modular training system to meet the evolving need to train troops in counter-IED,” says Henrik Höjer, Head of Training & Simulation within Saab. “The system will be used prior to and on operations in remote environments with embedded personnel.”

This incredibly innovative training system was first shown at ITEC 2010 and provides instant feedback on how a soldier is operating the standard issue hand-held metal detector.

Saab will employ its newly developed instrumented training system called ATES C-IED, to deliver the training. ATES C-IED is a fully instrumented tactical engagement system developed to meet the training needs of current and future improvised explosive device threats and the wider aspects of counter insurgency. The company will provide a managed training service with field teams comprising subject matter experts to support the use of ATES C-IED as well as the delivery of after action reviews.

The company says that, “the ATES C-IED system supports the rapid adaptation of Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTP) and equipment necessary for units to remain “steps ahead” of potential adversaries.”

In September 2009, Saab and the UK MoD started to address a critical need which would help enable the British Army to address the C-IED threat more effectively. By December 2009, Saab recognized that most of the training and evaluation capability already existed. The shortfall was based on the need for objective evidence about the use of the Hand Held Metal Detectors. By using existing technology, Saab was able to integrate a prototype module in less than 53 days. With a better understanding of the need the MoD were able to set a Concept Demonstrator Demonstration contract on Saab. Over the months of September and early October 2010, Saab trained 1612 personnel from 16 Air Assault Brigade before their deployment on operations.