Saab contributes to greener air traffic

Clean Sky is one of Europe’s largest research programmes ever. Saab will, together with the European Commission and the aircraft industries of Europe, develop new technologies for greener, more environmentally efficient aircraft. The project was launched today during a ceremony in Brussels.

Clean Sky has the objective to reduce the European air traffic’s emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxides and noise by 20-40 percent by the year 2020. Saab is involved in the project, developing new technologies to reach this goal.

”The project is of great strategic importance for the environment, the future of civil aviation and for Saabs position within the European aircraft industry. We play an important role in Clean Sky with our unique expertise and knowledge, and we are confident that we can contribute in making air traffic more environmentally efficient”, says Åke Svensson, CEO for Saab and also chairman for ASD (AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe), who is in Brussels to inaugurate the project.

A number of sub-areas are proposed within the framework of the programme. Saab, together with Airbus, will develop a new wing configuration that is intended to be the basis for the next generation wing for large civil aircraft. Saab will also participate in developing new systems that make it possible to plan flight paths much more intelligently than at present, which will lead to smarter and more fuel efficient flights. Other sub-systems that will be studied are de-icing systems, thermal management systems and more electric actuation systems.

Clean Sky is a Joint Technology Initiative, a new collaboration form within the EU where industries, organizations and authorities participates, with the objective to develop and demonstrate new technologies. The Clean Sky JTI gathers the majority of the European aircraft industries, from small and medium sized enterprises up to the major players on the market. In addition, the research community is also a key player in the project.

Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions ranging from military defence to civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents and constantly develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs.

For further information, please contact:
Peter Larsson, Press Secretary, Saab
Tel: +46 (0)8 463 00 18, +46 (0)734 18 00 18

Jonas Lindell, Communications Director, Saab Aerosystems
Tel: +46 (0)734-18 71 73

www.saabgroup.com
Saab AB discloses the information provided herein pursuant to the Securities Markets Act and/or the Financial Instruments Trading Act. The information was submitted for publication at 15.30 on February 5, 2008.