FMV has handed over the fourth and final fire unit of Air Defense System 103, Patriot, to the Armed Forces. The handover was made at Lv6 in Halmstad a year after the first fire unit was handed over.
– It’s been four years since FMV ordered the Patriot system from the U.S. government. The fact that we have delivered a completely new air defense system that Sweden has not had before is very quickly worked, compared to how long similar projects usually take. We have also kept to both schedule and budget, says Christer Mellgren, FMV project manager.
Air Defense System 103 is an advanced air defense system capable of fighting very fast ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and aircraft. The four fire units that FMV has now delivered also include a combat command center, reconnaissance and fire control radar, generators and avalanches. The equipment also includes the vehicles carrying the various components and the two types of missiles that the system fires.
“According to the original plan, we would hand over the last fire unit to the Armed Forces next year. But the changed external situation meant that we moved up a gear and were able to deliver it already this year, says Christer Mellgren.
Training and maintenance
The Patriot system, which is manufactured in the United States, is completely new to the Armed Forces and Lv6. Therefore, a team from the US government and industry has been on site in Halmstad for the past year to train the Swedish army in the new air defense system.
“They have started to go home now, but some will remain next year also to help Lv6 with training and maintenance, so that the Armed Forces get started in the best way with the system.
Now it remains only to deliver some spare equipment that is delayed delivery from the United States. That will happen next year. After that, FMV’s procurement project is completed and transferred to a maintenance project.
“We’re a very good group that has worked closely together, so it’s a bit sad that it will end in a few months. But it feels great that we end the project by delivering ahead of schedule, says Christer Mellgren.