LINKOPING, Sweden, May 26 (UPI) -- Saab AB of Sweden is expanding its operations in Britain with a new office in London and a new design center.
The company said the London office will coordinate its in-country operations, while the design center will capitalize on Britain's maritime jet engineering skills.
Initially staffed with about 10 British employees, its first project will be to design the carrier-based version of the Gripen multi-role fighter.
Saab is also centralizing its underwater vehicle development and production in Britain by merging its military underwater vehicles operations in Sweden with Saab Seaeye, a British subsidiary in Fareham, England.
"Saab has a long and successful relationship with the U.K. and I believe our expansion will create the conditions for a wider, strategic partnership that will benefit both nations," Saab President and Chief Executive Officer Hakan Buskhe said. "Today, cooperation is vital in the global defense sector and the U.K.'s requirements and expertise firmly complements our own ambitions and vision."
Saab has around 12,500 employees globally with some 200 employees across the United Kingdom.
