The Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV) sent both a $46 million and $50 million orders to Saab to provide maintenance, operation support, and continuing development work for various models of the Gripen in 2015 and development work on the Gripen E, respectively, the company said on Thursday.
Included in the first order is the operation of rigs, simulators, and test aircraft for the verification and validation of the Gripen C/D and Gripen E fighter aircraft systems. Additionally, the contract contains operational support for the Gripen C/D.
This first order was included as part of a 2015 and 2016 $92 million option announced on Dec. 20, 2013.
“It is good to have this order in place. As part of our ongoing agreements, Saab continues to support Swedish Air Force operations today and the future development of Gripen for Sweden and other Gripen customers around the world,” Ulf Nilsson, Head of the Gripen business unit within Saab’s Aeronautics business area, said in a statement.
The contracted work will be primarily done at Saab’s facilities in Linkoping, Gothenburg, and Järfälla, Sweden
The second, $50 million, order focuses exclusively on the Gripen E.
“The work on Gripen E goes according to schedule and budget. The order is part of the high-tech development of the next generation Gripen system to Sweden”, Nilsson explained in a separate statement.
The Gripen E has significant performance improvements over previous models, the company highlighted. This includes a more powerful engine, longer range, more weapons, a new AESA radar, and more advanced avionics.