Saab JAS 39 Gripen

With Saab facing significant headwinds in large western markets, recent news indicates that the company has set its sights on smaller prospective deals elsewhere in the world.

Sweden is beginning to ponder what follows the Gripen as it looks to preserve its national combat aircraft development capability.

Continuing an annual tradition dating back to 1957, Aviation Week Network editors honored a wide variety of industry accomplishments.

Sweden has awarded contracts to Saab and GKN Aerospace to begin studies into future combat aircraft and propulsion development.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

RTAF has released a white paper on new procurement requirements, including fighter replacements, domestically produced munitions and anti-drone technology.

Sweden’s Saab received its first order for the Gripen C/D in 14 years when Hungary decided to expand its air force’s fleet of the combat aircraft.

The Czech Republic has formally joined the growing list of European nations to acquire the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

The passive, long-range sensor is being added to the Brazilian Air Force inventory through the Gripen acquisition program.

China’s own upgrades are driving other nations in the region toward change.

An ongoing software problem haunts Lockheed Martin’s production and modernization agenda for the F-35 as a raft of new competitors hit key milestones in 2024.

Thailand’s 2023 Defense & Security exhibition here featured an entirely new security and geopolitical landscape since it was last held a year ago.

New-build deliveries of fighter aircraft are expected to eclipse 5,000 airframes globally, for a total value of nearly $460 billion USD. Lockheed Martin’s F-35 is expected to capture 34% of that total.

The proposals to develop further missions for the Gripen are part of updated military advice provided to Stockholm by commander-in-chief General Micael Bydén.

A Saab official tells Aerospace DAILY that Bangkok says procurement of an F-16 replacement is "going to be a competition."

The British and Swedish governments are to cooperate on promoting international sales of Saab’s JAS 39 Gripen E combat aircraft.

Sweden’s government appears to be softening its stance toward a potential transfer of Saab Gripen combat aircraft to Ukraine.

The Royal Thai Air Force had previously announced that a squadron of Lockheed Martin F-16A/Bs based in Korat would be decommissioned between 2028 and 2031.

The contract is part of a multi-phase project on which GKN has been working since 2019 with Sweden’s Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) and Saab.

Prague countered critics of its F-35 decision, who claim the aircraft is too expensive for the Eastern European country to operate.

The Czech government has approved the acquisition of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

British Eurofighter Typhoons and Norwegian Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters have performed their first landings and takeoffs from road runways.

The Czech Republic has claimed that acquiring and operating Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter will be cheaper than operating Saab’s Gripen E.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has dampened expectations over a potential transfer of Gripen fighters to Ukraine.

The two countries declare such a transfer only would take place once the infrastructure at Ukrainian airfields is made suitable for the aircraft’s operation.