March 26 (Reuters) - Saab plans to build a

new facility for weapon systems in the United States to boost

munitions production capacity and strengthen its global supply

chain, the Swedish defense equipment maker said on Tuesday.

The site will support the engineering and production of

missile weapon systems for the U.S. military. This includes

components for the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB)

system, along with close combat weapons.

The U.S. Department of Defense struck a deal with Saab in

2019 enabling the purchase of Saab's close combat solution,

which includes AT4 anti-armour systems and Carl-Gustaf

ammunition for up to $422 million.

Saab expects to finalize the location and break ground on

the facility by this year, with production commencing in 2026.