BERN, Switzerland, March 4 (UPI) -- Swiss technology group RUAG has been selected by Saab of Sweden to develop and produce payload mountings for the Gripen E military jet.
The contract is worth $77.2 million.
Payload mountings are mechanisms that carry additional fuel tanks, reconnaissance systems or guided missiles. The order from Saab comprises four work packages, which include the design of the mountings, their development up to series production, and the creation of prototypes for three Gripen E test aircraft.
The contract also features an option for series production of the payload mountings.
Switzerland is considering the purchase of 22 Gripen E jets. If it does, the payload mountings for series production of the entire Gripen E fleet -- 60 aircraft for Sweden and 22 for Switzerland -- will be manufactured in Switzerland in the future, RUAG said.
RUAG added it intends to use suppliers from all regions of the country to meet Saab's needs.
