Saab completes HX Challenge flight tests

Saab’s Gripen E and GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft have completed flight evaluations as part of Finland’s HX Challenge, the company announced on 6 February.

The testing, carried out for the Finnish Air Force at Pirkkala Air Base in Finland, is part of the capability assessment in the ongoing HX programme, the procurement of new fighter aircraft to equip the Finnish Air Force.

The HX Challenge was carried out in Finland with tests performed under Finnish winter conditions, with the purpose to verify the data previously reported by the fighter manufacturers.

Saab has also submitted a revised offer in response to the revised Request for Quotation for the programme. Saab’s offer to Finland is a comprehensive solution based on the Gripen E/F fighter aircraft, combined with the GlobalEye AEW&C.

Jonas Hjelm, senior vice president and head of Saab business area Aeronautics, said: ‘During the past week we have successfully completed the planned tests, and hence demonstrated the capabilities of Gripen and GlobalEye, a solid and highly capable solution responding to the needs of the Finnish Air Force.’