Is this the Gripen-NG? Or that stealthy Gripen concept they offered South Korea?
BRUSSELS, Dec. 8 (UPI) — Sweden to fund new Gripen
Following Lockheed Martin’s victory in the race for the new Norwegian air force fighter jet contract over Saab’s Gripen NG, Sweden has announced it will fund the development of a fifth-generation Gripen jet, according to a statement from the Swedish Ministry of Defense.
The Norwegian deal was made several weeks ago and was announced ahead of schedule. The timing and decision are said to have surprised Saab and the Swedish government. Norway decided to spend $2.5 billion on 48 U.S.-built Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Striker Fighters in a competition that previously saw the Eurofighter Typhoon drop out.
As well as bankrolling development of the new fifth-generation Gripen, Sweden intends to buy 10 of the new models when they are ready to enter service. Sweden is also in the process of reducing and upgrading its current Gripen fleet.
The Gripen NG is still entered in competitions for combat fighter contracts with the air forces of Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, India, the Netherlands, Romania and Switzerland, according to Defense News. The three Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are considering pooling their money to buy the Gripen NG in bulk for a common air-defense plan. (more)..
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January 3, 2009 at 5:49 am