In February, the Defence College for Military Capability Integration (DCMCI)’s Number 53 AeroSystems course embarked on a tour across Sweden, hosted by Saab.
Course members had the opportunity to explore key Saab facilities in Gothenburg, Linköping, and Stockholm. Here they benefitted from briefings delivered by Saab experts, toured manufacturing and maintenance operations, and took part in discussions with the Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV).
Exposing course members to a diverse array of cutting-edge technologies, the tour covered topics including radar, airborne surveillance, electronic warfare, air platform protection, and modelling and simulation.
The tour is a key component of the AeroSystems course, serving as a bridge between the academic phase delivered as part of the AeroSystems MSc by Cranfield University, and practical military applications delivered by the Defence Air & Space Technology School (DASTS).
Beyond technical knowledge, the visit also provides valuable insights into Sweden’s unique defence procurement strategies. These strategies are shaped by the nation’s unwavering focus on National Defence and self-sufficiency in the face of ever-present potential threats.
The insight gained on these tours sets the AeroSystems course apart and ensures UK and overseas course members from all three Services are fully prepared to undertake specialist roles in Capability, Acquisition, and Test and Evaluation. These graduates go on to become the intelligent customers needed to advance the next generation of capabilities.