Romania Consider leasing Gripen fighter from Sweden
Saab is negotiating the leasing of 12 JAS-39 Gripen fighter aircraft to Romania under a US$ 900 million, five year program. The Romanian air force considers this plan as an interim solution, to replace some of its oldest MiG-21’s and maintain operational capability until the deliveries of its future fighters.
The Swedish Air Force aircraft became operational in 1997. According to the Swedish newspaper Norra Västerbotten , the aircraft will be refurbished and modernized with a new radar, advanced cockpit and avionics suite, advanced weapons and modern electronic warfare systems. Sweden has already sold Gripen aircraft to several air forces in Europe and Africa, including Hungary, Czech Republic, and South Africa. The refurbished Gripens will be provided as replacement for some of the Romanian Air Force’s older MiG-21 aircraft, which will be phased out of service by the next decade. The Romanian Air Force is also planning to procure a modern fighter to replace it’s recently withdrawn MiG-29 fleet and is considering the the US Lockheed Martin F-16, Dassault/Embraer Mirage 2000BR, Gripen International JAS-39 and Eurofighter Typhoon.
Romanian Press Review
Ev. Zilei, 24 dec 2004
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December 27, 2004 at 6:57 pm