Saab’s Trackfire Successful In Recent Trials

Saab’s Trackfire Remote Weapon Station (RWS), recently successfully completed two consecutive sets of gruelling evaluation trials for a number of international users.

Late 2010, a Trackfire RWS was integrated on to a Dockstavarvet Combat Boat 90 with sea trials conducted in the Swedish archipelago under winter storm conditions, where up to Sea State 4 was recorded. In addition to precision engagement serials against a variety of shore targets at ranges of up to 2,000 metres, target tracking of simulated air and sea-borne threats was also successfully verified.

Upon completion of sea trials, the same system was then immediately transferred onto a Patria AMV (Armoured Modular Vehicle) for trials at a proving ground in Sweden. During these trials, atmospheric conditions dropped to -17°C with extreme low visibility due to fog, thereby creating particularly challenging conditions.


--100 percent hit probability
Despite these conditions, the Trackfire-equipped Patria AMV demonstrated consistent target acquisition/tracking and system accuracy by scoring an overall hit result of 94 percent as well as 100 percent hit probability during demanding moving own vehicle/moving target serials.

--A result of excellent design and efforts
The high scores recorded was the result of the Patria AMV and Trackfire designs related to mechanical and electrical integration, the excellent working environment for the gunner provided by Patria AMV even in these harsh conditions, the firing and stabilisation performances provided by the Trackfire and the work performed by an experienced gunner operating the intuitive HMI of the Trackfire.

Officially launched at DSEi, London in 2007; Trackfire has attracted considerable interest and a number of demonstrator systems have been in near-constant assessment and evaluation trials ever since.

--An open and scalable architecture
Building on nearly 40 years of stabilised Fire Control products for both the land and marine environment, Saab has developed Trackfire to be utilised by both land and naval users to ensure high-end firepower, mobility and survivability; whilst simultaneously reducing operational burdens across all Lines of Development. Trackfire features an open and scalable architecture and includes the option for an integrated Saab Video Tracker Module as well as interfaces to platform navigation aids such as an Inertial Navigation System (INS).

--A winning combination
“While we acknowledge that Saab is a late contender in the RWS market, we remain confident that Trackfire has demonstrated a step-change in RWS price/performance ratio which will now raise the bar for our competition. The recent trials on the Patria AMV demonstrated flawless functionality without a single feeding or functional error throughout the trial. A winning combination of world class performance and excellent reliability means that Trackfire is now the RWS to watch” says Henrik Hej, Saab Trackfire Sales Director.