Saab 2014 Annual Report Download - page 8

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CEO COMMENT
CHALLENGES AND CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE
We have strengthened our customer oering and
our competitiveness. Saab operates in a chall en-
ging, highly competitive market, and I am proud
that we are succeeding under these circumstances.
But at the same time there is still work to do to
reach Saab’s goals and ambitions.
A GROUNDBREAKING YEAR FOR SAAB
e contract with Brazil on the new generation
Gripen is the biggest export order in Saab’s history.
is, together with the fact that we are already
developing Gripen for Sweden, ensures that the
Gripen system will be one of the world’s leading
ghter aircra in coming decades. Innovative new
products were launched, and aer the acquisition
of yssenKrupp Marine Systems (Saab Kockums)
we have become a turnkey supplier of military
systems for land, air and sea.
CHANGING MARKET PRESENTS
OPPORTUNITIES
e defence market has been challenging since the
global recession began in 2008. Strained govern-
ment budgets have reduced investments in defence
and security products in recent years. Defence
spending is projected to rise going forward, but the
turnaround is not expected to be quick or strong
and therefore will not impact Saab in the short
term.
e market is changing at an accelerating pace.
Technological developments, combined with com-
pletely dierent threat scenarios compared with a
couple of decades ago, are creating opportunities
for companies that are able to adapt to the new
conditions.
CONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT
AND IMPROVEMENT
Two key internal priorities are project manage-
ment and leadership development. We are
developing a leadership culture on every level of
the company with a focus on performance and a
desire to continuously grow. Saab is a workplace
that oers professional and personal development
in combination with a positive and inclusive climate.
INNOVATIONS FOR THE FUTURE
Investments in research and development during
the year corresponded to about 25 per cent of sales.
e large part of R&D is done in close co-operation
with customers, including the development of the
new generation Gripen.
Our own major investments also resulted in the
following launches in 2014:
• Experience with Active Electronically Scanned
Array (AESA) technology, combined with an
understanding of market needs, resulted in ve
completely new radar systems for land and sea.
• e fourth generation of Carl-Gustaf, CG M4,
was launched.
• e Swedish Transport Agency gave clearance
to the Örnsköldsvik Airport to begin using
Saab’s Remote Tower, making it the rst airport
in the world to be managed remotely.
A big change for Saab happened during the summer
with the acquisition of yssenKrupp Marine
Systems. is means that Saab has now taken a
further step in the naval area and become a turn-
key supplier of submarines, among other things.
e design of the next generation submarine, A26,
is now underway.
2014 will go down in history as one of Saab’s most important years.
It was a year highlighted by groundbreaking deals, important product
launches and business successes.
4 – SAAB ANNUAL REPORT 2014