Saab Signs $48 Million Swedish SK60 Trainer Support Agreement

Saab has won an $48.5 million order to maintain SK60 trainer aircraft of the Swedish Armed Forces.

The extended support and maintenance agreement will be in place for three years starting on 1 July 2017, the company said in a statement Friday.

Saab maintains full responsibility for Sweden’s fleet of SK60 aircraft by delivering all required flight operations, maintenance and the provision of stand-by capacity to the Armed Forces. Since December 2008 Saab has ensured that the SK60 system is fully airworthy and available at Swedish Air Force wings, in accordance with Swedish Armed Forces' requirements. This latest agreement continues this key flight operations support function for Saab until 2020.

"The extended contract is a comprehensive undertaking whereby we ensure the complete readiness of the SK60 fleet. We provide guaranteed flight hours at a fixed cost, in what is known as a ‘power-by-the-hour’ agreement," says Jonas Hjelm, head of Saab's business area Support and Services.

SK60 is the Swedish military designation for the Saab 105, a twin-engined jet aircraft which made its maiden flight in 1963. Since 1967 SK60s have served as the principal jet training aircraft for Swedish military pilots.