We Believe in Collaboration with Local Industry: Chun-Chau Chew, Country Manager, Singapore at Saab

Saab is highlighting several of its advanced capabilities, including naval platforms, surveillance systems, training solutions, and underwater technologies under the theme “Keeping People and Society Safe” at the ongoing IMDEX Asia. “With evolving maritime threats, Saab continues to focus on delivering solutions that ensure operational superiority and resilience. IMDEX Asia 2025 underscores Saab’s long-standing commitment to Singapore and the broader Asia-Pacific region. The event provides an opportunity to strengthen relationships with key stakeholders and showcase Saab’s dedication to providing cutting-edge, mission-critical solutions for maritime defence,” said Chun-Chau Chew, Saab´s country Head in Singapore.

Chew spoke with GBP Daily News prior to the start of the show, to provide insights into the Swedish firm’s operations in Singapore. Edited excepts from the interview.

Please provide an update on Saab’s history in Singapore.

Saab has been in Singapore for more than 40 years. Our foray into the Singapore market started off in the late 1970s, where we delivered air defense radars to the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). Following this, we ventured into the coastal radar and even naval radars. We even went on to deliver Weapon Locating Radars (WLR) for the Singapore Army. In fact, our WLRs were deployed in Afghanistan to protect the troop in one of the peacekeeping operations. So, we have been predominantly very strong in the in the radar domain, from air, land, sea and coastal as well. Our entry into the naval domain started in 1991, when we started to deliver the Mine Counter Measure Vessels to the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). In fact, as we speak today, they are still operating and operating very well even after 30 years. As you know, in the mid-nineties when the RSN decided to get its own submarine capability, it was Sweden and Saab that trained the RSN on the Challenger class submarines. In the mid-2000s we had another contract for Archer class submarines. In-between we also delivered Heavy Weight Torpedoes. We have delivered the RBS 70 with short range radars to meet VSHORAD requirements.

This is a summary of what we do but of course, there are lots more other things that we have done and are doing. In the past few years, we have been fortunate and honoured to be selected to design the Multi Role Combat Vessel that is the RSN’s flagship programme. So IMDEX presents a great opportunity to showcase our naval capability in different domains.

Geopolitically, what are some of the procurement trends you see, not only for Singapore but also in the region?

Over the past few years, the world has become a lot more complex. COVID 19 has shown that supply chain resilience is very important. Increasingly, our customers are looking at

localization and getting some kind of local support. And in recent times, you know the tariffs that are happening around the world. There is lots of uncertainty about how the supply chain will be affected. We certainly see an increasing need for the customer to have their own localization, local support. So, this is happening worldwide, and supply chains have been disrupted. Procurement of a system takes a lot longer now. I would say that the demand outstrips supply at this moment, because of the war in Ukraine and very unfortunate situations around the world.

On this note about localization for Saab in Singapore, we believe in collaboration. We never believe in doing everything on our own. And our strategy in Singapore has always been that we want to collaborate with the local industry. One of those examples is our partnerships with Singapore Technologies, National Computer System, etc. We will continue to collaborate with them, because by collaborating with them, we bring our product, we build the local know how, we customize, localize the solution to the local customer. We will give that assurance to the local customer here in Singapore.