Details of Swiss Gripen

Swiss Ueli Maurer defense minister today announced details on Aug. 24 signed a framework agreement to buy 22 fighter Gripen JAS-39E, which partly differ from previous announcements.

Yesterday the head of the Swiss defense ministry, as previously announced reported the details of the framework agreement of 24 August. to buy 22 fighter Saab JAS-39E.

Compared to the earlier announcement confirmed the value of the contract: 3.126 billion Swiss francs ($ 3.3 billion). But it turned out that the only single-seater aircraft deliveries will start only in mid-2018 and will continue into 2021, with the first tranche payment - CHF 300 million - will go to the manufacturer in 2014. The beginning of the supply has been associated with the transmission of fighters of the E / F for the Swedish Air Force. They should get the first machine a few months earlier, in the 2nd quarter of 2018.

In that amount of the contract is also a weapons package with missiles air-to-air MBDA Meteor, on-board radar scan phase, a new electronic warfare system and logistics and training packages.

During the transitional period the Swedish Air Force lend 11 Gripenów the C / D (8 and 3 combat training-combat), to replace the oldest F-5E / F They will be used in the years 2016-2021, the lease fee CHF 44 million per year. Ueli Maurer added that the 11 old fighter maintenance costs much less - about 35 million CHF.

The final agreement to come into force, must approve the parliaments of both countries. It is assumed that the Swiss should do in the autumn of 2013. If there is a referendum announced by the socialists and pacifists, the term moves in mid-2014, but this should not affect the performance of the contract.