News & Events from MT&SN

Saab Gets Into Virtual Market

e-Com's virtual small arms trainer.

Live training specialists Saab, formally known as Saab Training Systems, has announced that it has bought the Czech training and simulation company, E-Com. Based in Slavkov, E-Com is primarily known for its virtual training capabilities so why has Saab added virtual training to its live portfolio?

Saab has frequently dabbled in the virtual arena with the occasional forays into building gunnery trainers, the latest has been a partnership with Krauss Maffei Wegmann for NLAW anti-armour simulators for the Swedish Army. The purchase of E-Com, which MT&SN understands was made at a ‘very good price,’ sends a signal that Saab is entering the highly competitive world of virtual simulation.

"E-COM has a strong product portfolio and know-how within virtual training and simulation, and it has entered into the international market very quickly. By combining our product portfolios, Saab gains an even stronger position and broadens its market offering of highly effective training solutions," says Henrik Höjer, head of Training & Simulation at Saab.

The Czech company provides a variety of products and systems within the virtual training and simulation arena and has delivered many different simulators to the Czech army and air force as well as to the international markets with exports to a number of countries including the US, Germany, United Arab Emirates and Singapore. E-COM has approximately 120 employees.

Saab is no stranger to doing business in the Czech Republic having already sold its JAS-39 Gripen aircraft into that market.