Saab signs strategic agreement with IFS for SK60

Göran Kristoffersson, business development manager at Saab Aerotech, says that, as well as using IFS Applications itself, the organisation is now offering customers services that extend to IT implementation and/or application services, using IFS ERP. Its first major contract, valued at SKr 900 million, is IT for overall support on the SK60 aircraft system. Saab is responsible for operating, supporting and maintaining all SK 60 aircraft for the Swedish Armed Forces, and will use IFS Applications to ensure that the aircraft system is airworthy and available. "We are examining several other possibilities with both military and civil authorities, and have set up an organisation in collaboration with IFS for combined marketing, sales and development," says Kristoffersson. "In our assessment, the market for this type of service and products within system support for maintenance and spare parts logistics is worth SKr 1.6 – 3 billion over the next 10 years." He explains that users operating in sectors ranging from commercial aviation and security to defence are increasingly demanding solutions that include maintenance and spare parts logistics throughout the lifecycle of a product. So, in addition to its own products and systems, Saab also works with products from other manufacturers, he says, and the demands for IT support are growing.