Kockums launches the first submarine in the Northern Light project

Mrs Teo Chee Hean, wife of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, named the first submarine in the Northern Light project, the second submarine project conducted between the Republic of Singapore and Sweden. The Minister, Mr Teo Chee Hean, was guest of Honour. The launching celebration took place at Kockums in Karlskrona 16th of June 2009. 300 guests from Singapore and Sweden were there to celebrate this.The Swedish government was represented by State secretary for Defence, Mr. Håkan Jevrell. At the ceremony was also State secretary Gunnar Wieslander from ministry for foreign affairs and former head of the Submarine Flotilla in Sweden. From the Swedish Headquarter came general Göran Mårtensson and head of the Swedish Navy, Rear Admiral Anders Grenstad and his wife Anja. From FMV came General Director Gunnar Holmgren. Other guests were county governor of Blekinge, Gunvor Engström, and Major of Karlskrona Mr. K-G Svenson.The chairman of the Swedish Defence committee in the Parliament, Mr. Anders Karlsson, was also present.Sweden and Singapore have a long tradition of cooperation in the defence area. This ceremony shows this and the high competence that the defence industry in Sweden has, said State secretary for Defence, Mr Håkan Jevrell.A business transaction of this nature is based on a relationship built up over a long time and on mutual trust. Kockums was commissioned to modernise two former Swedish Navy Västergötland-class submarines, and to equip them with the latest in submarine technology. Planning for the project has involved close cooperation with the customer. The Swedish Navy has been responsible for crew training.Kockums has been privileged to cooperate with Singapore over a period of many years, which has led to the establishment of the sort of mutual trust that is essential in such transactions. Our many years of cooperation have also resulted in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between ST Marine and Kockums, something I am particularly proud of, said Kockums CEO Jan-Olof Johansson.This MoU consists of the agreement that a joint venture company is to be set up to offer technical and maintenance support for the Republic of Singapore Navy’s submarines.

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