On assignment from the Swedish Defence Authorities the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration placed an order today with the Celsius business unit, Bofors Missiles, for the RBS 23 BAMSE all-weather air defence missile system.
The order is valued at SEK 55 M and helps to ensure the retention of competence in the high-tech area of missiles. It also opens the way for series orders when the final decision has been taken regarding the procurement of air defence missiles.
Celsius is an international advanced-technology and knowledge-based corporation which, in close interaction with its customers develops, manufactures and maintains advanced systems, products and services within three core areas: Defence, with a focus on electronics, IT and smart weapon systems; Aerotech Services, which comprises advanced services, consultancy and maintenance, primarily for defence-sector customers, and Aviation Services, which is focused on engine, component maintenance and asset management services for the commercial market.
This comprehensive competence provides a platform for the development of new products and services with strong growth potential in both defence-related and commercial markets.
Celsius has sales in excess of SEK 12 billion and some 9,500 employees.
Background on BAMSE
In 1993, the Swedish Government ordered full-scale development of the BAMSE Air Defence Missile System. BAMSE is a joint venture between Bofors Missiles and Ericsson Microwave Systems in which Bofors has the overall system responsibility. Series production will begin at the turn of the century.
The system has all-weather capability and a missile range exceeding the stand-off distance for electro-optical controlled weapons. With an effective altitude coverage of more than 12 km and a range of 15 km, the BAMSE system is suitable not only for protection of vital military objects and manoeuvrable ground forces, but also for protection of infrastructure vital to an entire nation.
In cases where a stand-off missile is released from an aircraft outside the range of the air defence system, BAMSE is still capable of defeating the attacking missile.
A BAMSE battery comprises one Surveillance Co-ordination Centre (SCC) and two to four Missile Control Centres (MCCs).
