Saab has announced that it will consolidate its maritime operations under a new business area called Naval, aiming to strengthen its naval capabilities and simplify its organizational structure. The restructuring, which will take effect on April 1, 2026, will merge the activities of the Kockums business area with most of the Naval Combat Systems unit, currently operating under Saab’s Surveillance business area. The newly established Naval division will be led by Mats Wicksell, who currently manages Saab’s Kockums operations.
Saab President and CEO Micael Johansson stated that this reorganization is intended to enhance the company’s ability to deliver integrated naval solutions. Johansson added that the change will further strengthen their market position by increasing efficiency and accelerating innovation.
Platform and System Integration Under One Roof
Until now, Saab’s maritime operations were spread across several different units. The Kockums division has been responsible for the design and production of surface combatants, submarines, and autonomous underwater vehicles, while the Naval Combat Systems unit developed combat management systems, fire control systems, secure communication solutions, and system integration capabilities for naval platforms. Bringing these capabilities together under a single organization is expected to enhance collaboration between platform development and mission system integration.
Operational Synergy and Technological Innovation
The company also noted that the restructuring will create operational synergies, streamline internal processes, and accelerate technological innovation across Saab’s naval portfolio. This move reflects the growing importance Saab places on naval defense solutions, driven by increasing global demand for submarines, advanced combat systems, and autonomous maritime platforms. In recent years, the company has expanded both its technological capabilities and export activities in these areas and, last year, acquired the local submarine component supplier Deform to strengthen supply security for the Swedish defense industry.
Read more defence news
Source: C4Defence– Saab
