ABB Canada joins BAE, Saab in $2B medium military vehicle bid

QUEBEC—ABB Canada is partnering with BAE Systems and the Saab Group in a bid for the $2-billion Canadian military’s Close Combat Vehicle (CCV) program.

Submitted to the Department of National Defence (DND), the trio’s bid would include 108 vehicles with an option for the purchase of 30 more.

Saab named ABB Analytical Measurements to source, supply and produce electro-optic control system for the medium weight combat vehicles.

According to ABB, if chosen, the bid would create about 50 jobs for ABB and sub-contractors in Quebec and Ontario.

ABB said a “significant portion” of the CCVs would be manufactured in Canada.

Under the federal government’s Indus­trial Regional Bene­fits (IRB) program, procurement projects like the CCV program require business activity in the Canadian economy equal to 100 per cent of the contract value.

“The Saab model ensures job maintenance for engineering and technical staff as well as the creation of new jobs,” director of remote sensing at ABB Analytical Marc-André Soucy said in a statement.

In order to be ready for the start of the program, Saab has already transferred its technology to ABB.

“Producing in Canada will provide stability … allow ABB to increase its contribution to the local aerospace sector in the province of Quebec,” Soucy said.

According to Mikael Segerman, BAE Systems’ Canadian sales director, some 50 companies across the country will contribute to the program.