Switzerland To Buy 22 JAS Gripen Aircraft Worth $3.1 Billion

Switzerland has confirmed the order to purchase 22 Gripen fight aircraft from Sweden on Tuesday in a deal worth $3.1 billion. According to the terms of the contract, the first delivery will take place in mid-2018, with all 22 planes to be delivered by 2021. “The negotiations were tough,” said Christian Catrina, who represented Switzerland in the deal, according to the TT news agency. The deal for the Gripen E/F -- or Super JAS -- planes was officially signed on Tuesday afternoon, with Ulf Hammarström of the Swedish Defence and Security Export Agency (Försvarsexportmyndigheten - FXM) positive about the exchange. “We are pleased with this agreement, which will be of great benefit to the countries' defence forces,” he said. Switzerland is expected to pay a first installment in January 2014 of 300 million francs. The decision to buy the planes was subject to debate in Switzerland’s Parliament which found that the "choice of jet made by the Federal Council carries the most risks: technically, commercially, financially and in respect of the delivery date". Meanwhile, Sweden intends to purchase between 40 and 60 Super JAS jets.