Estonia increases military training capabilities with Saab

The Estonian Armed Forces ordered a company-size infantry kit and eight BT46 CV9035 vehicle simulator kits from Saab, which are set for delivery in 2018.

“I am proud that the Estonian Armed Forces have once again chosen Saab as their partner. They have used our training systems for quite some time and are very capable of seeing the benefits of realistic training,” said Åsa Thegström, head of business unit Training & Simulation at Saab business area Dynamics.

Together, the equipment will be used for tactical training, and the BT46 kits will also be used for standalone vehicle crew training, gunnery training in the basic training level and in infantry and armor school. For control and monitoring exercises, the Estonian army will use Saab’s new Manpack 300. This portable training system supports up to 300 players in training exercises.

The BT46 kits integrate into a vehicle’s Fire Control System with BAE Systems, whom the Estonian government signed a CV90 maintenance contract with earlier this year, to create a realistic simulator system.

“[For example] the crew can train ‘Fire on the move’ and try to hit another moving target with exact ballistic precision. At the same time using all the instruments, sights, handle a modern vehicle and modern ammunition required today,” said Saab media relations manager Petter Larsson.

The contract also includes a five-year support aspect. This includes items like workshop and container storage, maintenance and repair courses, preventive maintenance at the Saab factory, a spare parts package and a yearly support meeting.

“With the support of the training system, the Estonian Armed Forces will be able to conduct both basic gunnery training from the CV9035 armored combat vehicle and unit training up to the mechanized company level, cost-effectively and realistically. This will dramatically strengthen their units’ capacity in the field,” said Jyrki Kujansuu, head of country unit Poland & Baltics at Saab market area Europe.

Saab and the Estonian Armed Forces first began working together in 2008, when Estonia ordered the first laser simulators for gunnery and combat training.