Saab, Adani Announce Collaboration To Manufacture Gripen Fighter Jets In India

Saab and India’s Adani Group today announced a collaboration plan for the design, development and production of Gripen fighter jet for India and also the creation of joint ventures in India in line with and in support of the Make In India policy.

The intended collaboration would include Gripen for India. Gripen would be offered to the Indian Government as the best solution for India’s single-engine fighter aircraft programme, A Saab release said.

The collaboration would also include projects, programs and technologies of national importance to India. The parties plan to develop the relationship into a structure of joint ventures in India for execution of the programs, including the single engine fighter program, in order to support the Make in India policy and exhibit the parties’ long term commitment to be jointly successful.

Saab, in partnership with Adani Group, will discuss possibilities to offer solutions to bring required design and manufacturing capabilities in defence and aerospace to India.

Saab and Adani will explore how to cooperate to develop a wider aerospace and defence ecosystem in India. A critical part of a joint roadmap would be to encourage the development of small and medium sized enterprises along with a robust national supply chain.

“We are committed to the India-Sweden relationship and in bringing the latest technology and skills to India,” says Håkan Buskhe, President and CEO of Saab AB.

The Adani group follows Reliance which has teamed with Dassault of France to execute the Rafale fighter jet deal for India.

The Saab-Adani partnership is pitted against Lockheed Martin-Tata grouping which is pitching the F-16 fighter for the Indian Air Force’s single engine fighter jet procurement plan to replace the MiG-21 fleet.