Saab’s Gripen E enters serial delivery phase
A Gripen E fighter takes flight. (Photo: Saab)
Saab has made significant progress on its leading fighter programme.
Saab has announced that the company’s Gripen E single-seat fighter jet programme has moved to a serial delivery phase for both the Brazilian and Swedish air forces.
During a 24 November meeting between Saab and authorities from Brazil and Sweden, the manufacturer presented the first six serial production Gripen E aircraft – split between four platforms for Brazil and two for Sweden.
Delegations from both countries were also involved in ‘joint activities’ discussions on the Gripen programme, said Saab in a company statement.
Those in attendance included Gen. Carlos de Almeida Baptista Junior, commander of the Brazilian Air Force and Maj. Gen. Carl-Johan Edström, commander of the Swedish Air Force.
‘During the visit to Saab, several serial production and test aircraft were presented to the authorities, who also had the opportunity to test the new Gripen mission trainer simulator and to view an air display with both Swedish and Brazilian Gripen aircraft,’ confirmed the manufacturer.
Figures from Shephard’s Defence Insight show that Brazil has ordered 36 Gripen E/F aircraft, the first 13 of which are to be built in Sweden with production then transferring to a Saab facility near Sao Paulo.
Sweden signed off on an order for 60 of the jets in 2013.
Saab has also offered Finland 64 Gripen E and two GlobalEye aircraft for the country’s HX acquisition, with a production contract set to be awarded in Q4 2021 or Q1 2022.
You may also like
More from Air Warfare
-
![Honeywell urges Pratt & Whitney to share F-35 engine data or risk costly maintenance and reduced reliability]()
Honeywell urges Pratt & Whitney to share F-35 engine data or risk costly maintenance and reduced reliability
'We're getting into a zone where [the engine and the cooling] are going to be out of phase with each other... which means you're going to have to take the [F-35] jet down twice for overhaul and replacement of systems,' Honeywell official tells Shephard.
-
![Australia reverses decision on Schiebel Camcopters for naval UAVs]()
Australia reverses decision on Schiebel Camcopters for naval UAVs
It turns out that Australia has made absolutely no progress in obtaining shipborne UAVs in the past 18 months or so.
-
![Austria to replace C-130 Hercules with C-390]()
Austria to replace C-130 Hercules with C-390
Austria plans to replace its retiring C-130 Hercules fleet with Embraer's C-390 military transport aircraft, Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner said on 20 September.
-
![Australia orders a fourth MQ-4C Triton and upgrades P-8A fleet]()
Australia orders a fourth MQ-4C Triton and upgrades P-8A fleet
Australia will buy another MQ-4C Triton for maritime surveillance, plus its partner the P-8A will undergo an upgrade programme.
-
![Four more US Air National Guard wings to receive C-130J Super Hercules]()
Four more US Air National Guard wings to receive C-130J Super Hercules
The USAF has selected four Air National Guard Airlift wings as the preferred locations to receive C-130J Super Hercules to replace the ageing C-130Hs.
-
![Elbit Systems wins $95 million contract for SkyStriker loitering munitions]()
Elbit Systems wins $95 million contract for SkyStriker loitering munitions
Elbit Systems has been awarded a $95 million contract to supply several hundred SkyStriker loitering munitions to a European country.
