LINKOPING, Sweden, March 25 (UPI) -- Continued development and modification of Saab's Gripen E fighter for the Swedish military is to proceed under a $1.65 million contract from the government.
Saab's work under the deal with the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration, FMV, the will take place from 2015-23 and will include adaptation of test and trial equipment, simulators and rigs.
"This is a strategically important order and of great significance for both Saab as a company and Gripen as a system," said Saab President and Chief Executive Officer Hakan Buskhe.
"Gripen is one of the most modern fighter aircraft systems and through this development order, and the expected modification order from Sweden, we have a strong competitive advantage when we now increase our efforts on the export market."
Sweden is procuring 60 Gripen E Fighters, with first deliveries to begin in 2018. The aircraft would be Gripen Cs modified to the E configuration. It is anticipated that Switzerland will contract for the delivery of 22 of the new E model jets.
