Thales UK Finalizes GBP 10M Agreement to Produce Swedish NLAWs
An earlier DID article noted Britain and Sweden’s SEK 4 billion contract for RB 57 NLAW(Next generation Light Antitank Weapon), Next Generation Light Antitank Weapon (NLAW) rockets in 2002, and the Swedish Materiel Administration’s SEK 500 million (GBP 36.3 million) order in 2005. As a follow-up to that order, Thales UK has just signed a GBP 10 million ($17.5 million at current conversion) export contract with Saab Bofors Dynamics for NLAW missile assembly.
In our last post describing the NLAW, we noted that final assembly will take place at Thales Air Defence in Belfast. The missiles will be assembled and tested in its high volume production line, using capabilities and expertise gained through similar missile programs such as the anti-air Starstreak and VT1, and the Hellfire anti-armor missile. Thales UK’s Basingstroke facility is also a key member of Team NLAW, assembling the center electronic package and Optical Sensor. As Thales somewhat awkwardly puts it: “The agreement with Saab Bofors Dynamics ensures that Thales UK will be responsible for the manufacture of export of the NLAW system for the foreseeable future.” In Britain, the system is known as MBT-LAW.
