SAAB Ups The Ante With Brazil FX-2 Bid

SAAB has announced it will upgrade its bid for the Brazilian FX-2 program as the competition heats up between rivals Boeing and France's Dassault.

The Swedish aircraft-maker says that it wants to make sure it will compete successfully for roles in both the Brazilian air force and navy. Brazil's jet fighter replacement program is said to be worth $6 billion-8 billion.

SAAB ran tests on a naval version of its Gripen NG with the aim to show that its jet, if successful in the FX-2 competition, will be equal to the tasks demanded of an all-rounder combat aircraft, with Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet and Dassault's Rafale-M having already demonstrated their multirole fighter capabilities extend from air force to naval operations.

The long delay in the FX-2 program has fed speculation that Brazil may push off again a decision on buying new jet fighters to replace its aging MiG planes. There are also signs the government in backing Brazilian industry initiatives to develop manufacturing capability related to the jet fighter program as much as possible.

SAAB remains serious about its "Sea Gripen NG" and has been working on the idea since their May 2011 announcement.

Aiming this market, the company is developing a naval version of JAS-39 Gripen, called "Sea Gripen," which aims to be a variant of its Gripen NG contender in Brazil's FX-2 program.