Weapons demo

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Saab Bofors Dynamics has successfully completed the first demonstration of NLAW as part of its contract to supply next generation anti-tank weapons for the British army.

Sweden's

Saab Bofors Dynamics

has successfully completed the first demonstration of NLAW as part of its contract to supply next generation anti-tank weapons for the British army.

The NLAW demonstration took place in Sweden and was attended by 50 guests from 13 countries. Experts from existing customer countries Finland, Sweden and the UK fired missiles at moving targets to demonstrate the system's high accuracy rate.

The SEK4bn (£0.32bn) contract with the UK was won in 2002 on the condition that British industry will be involved in the production. The project currently has around 20 sub-contractors throughout the UK. Development work is conducted at Saab with final assembly taking place at Thales in Northern Ireland.

Michael Ekenstedt, project manager for NLAW, said: ‘NLAW is a unique weapons system that does not have any direct competitors. This is shown by the fact that Finland came on board as a customer in 2007, before the system was fully developed.

‘We are now looking forward to starting a number of sales campaigns at the end of the year and during next year. Hopefully, several of these will also generate contracts.’

Sweden and Finland have already had a number of systems delivered for testing and the UK is due to receive its first order at the beginning of November. Deliveries for operational use to Sweden and Finland will begin in 2009.