Saab/BAE venture optimistic of adding to regional wins as first Czech aircraft arrives
Gripen International is preparing to launch three new fighter campaigns in eastern Europe that it believes could result in orders for more than 50 aircraft over the next four years.
The Czech Republic, meanwhile, is poised to become the first NATO member state to declare a fourth-generation fighter fully operational after taking delivery last week of its first six JAS39C Gripens on interim lease from Sweden's Defence Materiel Administration (FMV).
Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia have stated their intention to acquire NATO-standard supersonic fighters and the Saab/BAE Systems joint venture is looking to build on the export successes it has scored in the region with the Czech Republic and Hungary, says sales and marketing director Bob Kemp. Bulgaria said last month it expects to kick-off its contest by the end of this year, while Romania and Slovakia are expected to follow suit in 2006.
The Gripen team is again likely to face heavy competition from the US government offering the Lockheed Martin F-16, which defeated the Swedish fighter in Poland.
The first six single-seat Czech air force Gripens are due be declared operational as part NATO's integrated air defence system on 15 June. They will be equipped with Raytheon AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles and based at Caslav airbase in the quick reaction alert role. The remaining six single-seaters and two JAS39D two-seaters are due to be delivered in August. The first Czech D-model flew in mid-April.
"We need to have a full, competent capability, and that is this supersonic fighter," said Czech defence minister Karel Kuhnl, speaking at the handover ceremony. He refused to say whether Prague intends to exercise its option to uprade its aircraft with an air-to-ground capability.
The aircraft will, however, be equipped with Raytheon AIM-120C5 AMRAAM medium-range missiles, which deputy defence minister and head of arms procurement Jaroslav Kopriva says will be delivered in 2008.
ANDREW DOYLE/CASLAV AITBASE
Source: Flight International
