Domestic opposition mounts to joining French-led project
The Swedish government and Saab are battling to overcome a domestic political backlash over plans for the European nation to sign up as a major partner in the Dassault Aviation-led Neuron unmanned combat air vehicle demonstrator programme.
The debate has already caused the Swedish government to defer a decision on funding participation in the Neuron despite extensive government- and industry-level negotiations on financial and workshare issues over the past two years.
Swedish state secretary for industry, employment and communications Sven-Erik Soder, says the domestic political debate required the government to defer a decision on membership until the issue is resolved.
Soder says he hopes the freeze is temporary. “The project is not rejected by the government, not at all. It is still the government’s ambition to continue and we hope it will be possible to get the parliamentary support for this project.”
Saab and the Swedish government argue that Neuron programme participation will directly support future development of the Saab JAS39 Gripen fighter.
Soder says there is a “clear link” between the two projects and participation would make it “easier to fulfil our ambitions regarding Gripen. It is clear that the UCAV project has an importance for the Swedish defence system as well.”
Saab president and chief executive Ake Svensson says Neuron participation “is one of the number of the very important steps for the aerospace industry in Europe going forward. Neuron, to us, is very much a European aerospace industry co-operation, which is really forward looking. It will represent a giant leap for [Saab’s] technology. It will…secure our competence for upgrading the Gripen aircraft for the 30 years to come.”
- Alenia says it plans to continue development of its Sky-X UCAV demonstrator in parallel to the Neuron programme. Alexander Franzoni, Alenia Aeronautica chief technical officer, says: “We believe that there is ground for something in this area as far as dimensions [and] operational weight is concerned to aim for the lower segment of the combat UAV, maybe for a reconnaissance role.”
The Sky-X, which flew for the first time earlier this month, could also become a testbed for Neuron subsystems.
Source: Flight International
