A Great Interest in Gripen

International interest in Gripen is greater than ever before. Today Saab submitted the proposal to Switzerland. Recently Saab has also received requests from Brazil and the Netherlands>> Switzerland is interested in purchasing new aircraft to replace their F-5E Tigers. A proposal was submitted today and during the course of the year Gripen and its competitors, Rafale and Eurofighter, will participate in evaluations in Switzerland. Gripens evaluation will take place during July and August.>> Marketing activities worldwide>> Gripen has had an intensive first half of the year with marketing activities operating in parallel in 20 countries. On the 28th April tenders were submitted to both Norway (through the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, FMV) and India, and recently the Brazilian Air Force has restarted the process of renewing its aircraft fleet. Saab is one of five aircraft manufacturers who have been invited to submit information.>> The Netherlands and India>> In addition, the Netherlands recently turned to Saab with requests regarding Gripen. Like Norway and Denmark, the Royal Netherlands Air Force operates F-16 fighters and is involved in the American JSF-project (Joint Strike Fighter).>> In addition to the Gripen response submitted in April, Saab will also submit an industrial cooperation proposal to the Indian government at the beginning of August.>> The increasing international interest is evidence of the confidence in the Gripen programme. The last few years have been extremely successful, and the world has realised that Saab is a long term player that will be driving the development of fighter aircraft over the next 40 years, says Gripen Internationals marketing manager Bob Kemp.