Saab submits proposal to Switzerland

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, July 2 (UPI) -- Saab said Wednesday it has submitted a proposal to Swiss defense officials to address plans to replace the country's fighter aircraft.

Sweden-based Saab submitted a proposal with details about its Gripen aircraft to the armasuisse, the Swiss department for procurement of technologically complex systems and defense technology.

Switzerland announced in January plans to replace its F-5E/F Tiger fighter aircraft. Specific details concerning the number of aircraft being replaced was not released, but Swiss officials say that Saab's Gripen is one of three potential replacement possibilities.

"Switzerland is yet another example of the strong interest for Gripen worldwide," Ake Svensson, Saab chief executive officer, said in a statement.

"Our proposal meets all the requirements put forward by armasuisse. The Gripen proposal offers Switzerland the most cost-effective and proportionate replacement for the F-5E/F and moreover a perfect force fit with existing F/A-18 C/D. The proposal also features long-term viable industrial co-operation at 100 percent of the contract value."