Saab selects partner for Australian production of Barracuda MCSs

Saab announced on 6 April that it has selected New South Wales-based company Global Defence Solutions (GDS) as its Australian industry partner to locally manufacture the Swedish firm’s Barracuda Mobile Camouflage Systems (MCSs) and multispectral camouflage screens.

“Saab’s partnership with GDS will bring world-class capability into Australian industry with the transfer of our global camouflage technical knowledge and expertise,” Andy Keough, Managing Director of Saab Australia, was quoted as saying in a company statement.

Sources told Janes on 13 April that the new partnership follows the selection of the Barracuda MCS as the camouflage solution for the 211 Rheinmetall Defence Boxer 8×8 combat reconnaissance vehicles (CRVs) being acquired at a cost of AUD5.2 billion (USD3.96 billion) to replace the Australian Army’s ageing fleet of Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAVs) under Project Land 400 Phase 2.

The MCS has also been included as an option for the Lynx KF41 proposed by Rheinmetall Defence for the Australian Army’s requirement under Project Land 400 Phase 3 for up to 450 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) to replace the service’s obsolescent M113AS4 armoured personal carriers, the sources added.

The Lynx is competing with Hanwha Defense’s Redback AS21 for the IFV programme, currently costed at AUD18–27 billion.

The Barracuda MCS was installed on Australia’s fleet of 59 M1A1 main battle tanks about 2009. It is also deployed on Australian Army Supacat special operations vehicles.