Saab/Gripen team welcomes issue of India’s Request for Proposals for new fighters

The Swedish Saab/Gripen team has welcomed the receipt of the formal MMRCA Request for Proposal (RFP) for the supply of up to 126 new fighter aircraft to the Indian government.

The Saab/Gripen team is delighted to have the opportunity to respond to the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) RfP and is confident of submitting a fully compliant response to the Indian government. This will be based on the supply of the new generation Gripen, the world's most capable and cost effective combat aircraft in operation today, supported by a long term programme of industrial co-operation and offset.

"We look forward to the competition process and are confident that Gripen will meet, or exceed every operational requirement raised by the Indian Air Force, in all roles – air-to-air fighter BVR/WVR, air-to-surface land and sea, and reconnaissance” says Tony Ogilvy, Gripen International’s Director, India.

“Selecting the Gripen to equip its Air Force will provide India with the world’s most cost effective, new generation, multi-role combat aircraft in full operational service. Operating as a perfect force mix to complement the IAF’s Su-30 fleet, or in fully autonomous units, Gripen offers the highest sortie generation rates, flexibility of basing and combat lethality of any aircraft in the new generation class” he continued.

“Intelligent design of software and hardware will ensure that Gripen maintains this combat supremacy, via planned technology insertion throughout decades of frontline service. The time is over for yesterday’s outmoded concepts in support, upgrading and rigid basing requirements. Gripen is the future of flexible, integrated and networked combat power and it’s available now”

Gripen will, over life, have a substantially lower real Life Cycle Cost than its nearest single-engined competitor, and is able to operate at a fraction of the cost of its twin-engined competitors.

The Saab/Gripen team’s international industrial network, will provide substantial and long-term joint venture growth for the Indian aerospace and defence sector. SAAB AB and its international industrial partners are world leaders in the delivery of economic compensation to support defence sales.

Gripen is the first of the new generation, true multi-role combat aircraft to enter service. Using the latest available technology it is capable of performing an extensive range of air-to-air and air-to-surface operational missions and employing the latest weapons. Gripen is designed to meet the demands of current and future threats, while at the same time meeting strict requirements for flight safety, reliability, training efficiency and low operating costs. Gripen is in service with the Swedish, Hungarian and Czech Republic Air Forces and has also been ordered by the South African Air Force. The UK Empire Test Pilots’ School (ETPS) is operating Gripen as its advanced fast jet platform for test pilots worldwide.

Gripen International is a subsidiary of Saab AB and acts as a prime contracting organization, responsible for marketing, selling and supporting the Gripen fighter worldwide. Gripen International combines the strength of its international industrial partners, which are among the world's most experienced and respected manufacturers of aerospace and defence equipment.


For further information, please contact:
Adrian Stockwell – Communications Director, India, Gripen International
Tel:
+46 13 18 4763
Mobile: '
+46 734 184 763
Fax:
+46 13 18 0055
email:
adrian.stockwell@gripen.com
Website:
www.gripen.com

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