Creation of BK Systems: Joint venture of Kongsberg and Barzan.

KONGSBERG has signed a cooperation agreement in Qatar for long-term technology development programs within defence, maritime industry and digitalization. The first programme in relation to the cooperation will be delivery of communication, digitalization and tower solutions for military vehicles. The programme has a potential of approximately NOK 15 billion over the next eight years and will be the largest in KONGSBERG’s history.

BK Systems will be an important company for the development of technology and solutions within defence, digitalization and maritime industry in Qatar. 

Together with Qatari authorities, KONGSBERG has established a new company for technology development programs. The company, BK Systems, will have its main office in Qatar Science & Technology Park, and KONGSBERG holding the CEO position. The park is an innovation hub for leading international industry and universities.

- The establishment of this cooperation shows that Norwegian high-tech industry is world leading and in demand. We see considerable industrial opportunities for technology development with this establishment, says Geir Håøy, President and CEO of KONGSBERG.

Today, Qatari authorities announced the companies that have been selected to deliver to the country’s upcoming vehicle programme which is to be delivered over the next eight years. KONGSBERG is to deliver tower solutions, and digitalization and communication solutions to 490 armoured vehicles delivered by the French company Nexter. The next steps in the process will be detailing and final negotiations prior to signing the final contract for the programme.

- The vehicle program will be KONGSBERG’s single largest contract ever and entails considerable value creation and high-tech jobs for many years to come. The potential is approximately 15 billion kroner for KONGSBERG, says Håøy.

The signing took place during DIMDEX 2018 with a representative with both Barzan Holdings and Kongsberg

KONGSBERG is to deliver the solutions “PROTECTOR Remote Weapon Station” and “Medium Caliber Turret” to the programme, both remote tower solutions developed for increased protection of personnel. The PROTECTOR Remote Weapon Station is a system that was developed in cooperation with Norwegian armed forces towards the end of the 1990s, and thereafter it has been continuously developed and is the world leading solution with close to 20.000 systems delivered to 19 nations.

The Medium Caliber Turret is a further developed solution currently under deliver to the US Army. In addition to the delivery of the remote tower solutions, the agreement also includes delivery of integrated digitalization and communication solutions for the vehicles.

- Together with Norwegian high-tech industry KONGSBERG has for decades built up world leading competence on system integration, decision support tools and digitalization solutions which are to be delivered to this vehicle programme. Today we are the world number one supplier of these systems and we are satisfied that the Qatari authorities have chosen our solutions, technology and competence, says Håøy.