Saab Rules Out Gripen Fighter Jet Sale To Argentina

Saab has ruled out selling 24 Gripen E/F combat aircraft to Argentina, as such a deal would face an opposition from Britain, a senior company representative told reporters on 27 April.

Britain provides some 30 percent of the Gripen's content, including the radar on its next-generation Gripen E/F.

“We are not involved in any discussion involving Argentina and isn’t something we would consider at present. Maybe in the future, if relations with the UK were to improve it could happen, or (if relations don't improve) then perhaps we could source some (UK-made) components from elsewhere, but right now no," Ulf Nilsson, head of Saab's Aeronautics division said at Saab’s Linkoping facility in Sweden was quoted as saying by Janes in response to media reports that Argentina is sourcing Gripen as replacement for its aging Dassault Mirage jets.

Relations between Britain and Argentina remain tense since a war 33 years ago over the Falkland Islands (Malvinas). The United Kingdom manufactures radars, infrared search and track, landing gear, ejector seats for GripenE.

Prior to Saab's most recent statement on the issue, Brazilian government officials had said that they did not think that the United Kingdom would veto any such sale to Argentina (Brazil's interest in the sale lies in the fact that the Argentine aircraft would likely be sourced from its licenced production facility that is being set up to partially satisfy the Brazilian Air Force's order for 36 aircraft), Janes reported.