GRIPEN PROVIDES ANOTHER DOUBLE BOOST FOR POLISH AEROSPACE INDUSTRY

Gripen International has further strengthened its partnership with the Polish aerospace and defense industry by signing two new industrial co-operation agreements which are linked to supply of the Anglo-Swedish Gripen multi-role fighter to meet the national and NATO defense needs of Poland for the next 30 to 40 years.

Under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between Gripen partner Saab AB and PZL Swidnik, Saab personnel have, following evaluation, confirmed that capabilities at Swidnik will suit the development of advanced new carbon-fiber (CFC) manufacturing techniques. This enables the Polish aerospace company to be considered as a supplier of complex CFC parts for Gripen, including nose and main landing gear doors.

Following manufacture, the units would be exported from Poland to the Gripen production facility in Linkoping, or an alternative site, for final assembly. It is planned that all equipment required for the introduction of this advanced manufacturing process will be produced in Poland.

"The manufacture of CFC doors for Gripen will require significant technology transfer to Poland. These parts have complex, double curved surfaces which require advanced manufacturing techniques unlike anything that is currently manufactured in-country" comments Simon Carr, sales and marketing director Gripen International.

A separate Memorandum of Understanding relates to WZL-2 in Bydgoszcz. It involves an agreement for the Bydgoszcz facility to be the major candidate to provide maintenance facilities and logistics support for Polish Air Force Gripen fighters, including the manufacture of spares in-country and conversion of existing ground support systems to minimize the cost of introducing Gripen into Polish Air Force service.

This agreement also provides workers in Bydgoszcz with involvement in the integration of weapons specifically required by the Polish Air Force and the manufacture of components and sub-assemblies for export to Sweden and other countries.

It is the first time that PZL Swidnik and WZL-2 in Bydgoszcz have been linked to the supply of Gripen to the Polish Air Force

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"The industrial partnership agreements with PZL Swidnik and WZL-2 Bydgoszcz underline the broad and powerful direct offset program available in support of Gripen, " concludes Simon Carr. "We have already established industrial activities in Poland which amount to around $US 60 million and are totally committed to providing local companies with a long-term benefit from the Polish fighter procurement program, if Gripen is selected."

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Notes to editors:
Gripen International is a company equally owned by Saab of Sweden and BAE SYSTEMS of the UK.

Gripen is the first fourth-generation multi-role fighter in service world-wide, designed to meet the demands of all current and future threats, while at the same time meeting strict peace-time requirements for flight safety, reliability, training efficiency and low operating costs.

For further information, please contact
Owe Wagermark, Senior Vice President Communications
Gripen International
Phone: +46 13 18 4014 Mobile +46 70 889 60 00
Telefax: +46 13 18 0055

Dariusz Chomka, Best Communications Group
Tel.: + 48 (0) 22 853 66
dariusz.chomka@bestcg.com

www.gripen.com

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