South African Production Line Officially Opened

Sorry if this is old news.

I like the gripen, hope they have further success..great little bird.. (not so little and i guess not to be underestimated)

South African Production Line Officially Opened

South African Production Line Officially Opened

(Source: Gripen International; issued Oct. 13, 2003)

At a ceremony today, Friday at the Saab Aerosystems plant in Linköping, Sweden, the deputy president of South Africa Mr Jacob Zuma officially opened the Gripen for South African production line.

The South African government has ordered 28 Gripen aircraft, 19 single seat and 9 dual seat. The design work is already well under way and now the assembly of the first Gripen aircraft destined for South Africa has started. This aircraft will conduct flight trials in South Africa from the third quarter of 2006 and will be finally delivered to the customer in October 2007.

The engineering and manufacturing work, in which South African and Swedish are heavily involved, will continue until 2012. During the subsequent in-service period, that will last for several decades, the support and upgrading activities associated with modern aircraft will ensure a steady flow of job-opportunities for industries in South Africa and Sweden.

One of the key elements of the industrial participation program, is the Skills & Technology Transfer Program (STTP). This programme enables South African engineers to study aviation technology, methods, processes and tools in Sweden, to reinforce the local aviation industry. On returning to South Africa, engineers participate in development work for Gripen at the Design & Development Center at Denel Aviation in Johannesburg.

During his visit to Saab today, Deputy President Zuma had the opportunity of meeting the many South African families living and working in Sweden.