FMV seeks longer life for Swedish Gripens
Saab will define what is needed to meet Swedish requirements for the continued effective operation and availability of Gripen C/D until 2035.
Swedish defence procurement agency FMV has awarded Saab an SEK185 million ($22.3 million) contract to extend the service life of the JAS 39 Gripen C/D fighter aircraft.
Work is scheduled to be completed in December 2021.
The contract should see the Gripen C/D remain in service with the Swedish Air Force until 2035, aircraft manufacturer Saab noted in a 22 December statement.
‘Gripen C/D is the backbone of the Swedish Air Force and will be for many years to come. The result of the work will be that the customer has the ability to take different directions depending on their future needs,’ said Jonas Hjelm, Saab senior vice-president and head of the Aeronautics business area.
Apart from Sweden, Gripen C/D is operated by the Czech, Hungarian, South African and Thai air forces, plus the UK Empire Test Pilots’ School.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![USAF eyes sensor and weapon upgrades as MH-139A Grey Wolf achieves IOC]()
USAF eyes sensor and weapon upgrades as MH-139A Grey Wolf achieves IOC
The Grey Wolf has entered operational service nearly three years later than originally planned, while new sustainment contracts indicate that some UH-1Ns could remain supported until 2031.
-
![Extending mission readiness: where XR adds real value in pilot, crew and maintenance training]()
Extending mission readiness: where XR adds real value in pilot, crew and maintenance training
Extended reality (XR) is becoming increasingly relevant in military aviation training, adding a flexible layer to an integrated ecosystem spanning the pilot, crew, and maintenance domains.
-
![August crewed air review: KC-390 momentum builds as demand in the tanker market grows]()
August crewed air review: KC-390 momentum builds as demand in the tanker market grows
The KC-390 is building a growing international operator base, but competition in the transport and tanker market is increasingly likely to depend on interoperability, commonality and the strength of supporting ecosystems. Meanwhile, Boeing’s KC-46 and Airbus’s A330 also gained ground in August.
