Saab Strengthens Danish Fighter Bid

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Saab Strengthens Danish Fighter Bid
By GERARD O’DWYER

HELSINKI — The JAS Gripen has emerged as a formidable candidate in Denmark’s 48-plane, $4.6 billion fighter replacement program after jetmaker Saab and Terma, Denmark’s biggest defense group, agreed to a 15-year, $2 billion Industrial Package Cooperation Pact (IPCP).
Saab wants to give Danish industry as much work as possible if it wins the contract, said Åke Svensson, Saab’s president and chief executive.
“We have been very precise in the terms we are offering, and we believe that our offer is the best solution for Denmark,” Svensson said. Saab is offering Denmark a fully NATO-compatible fighter, with a commitment to deliver “from 2016 or earlier if Denmark so wishes.”
Saab’s JAS Gripen-D next-generation fighter is vying against the Eurofighter Typhoon and Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II in the battle to replace the Royal Danish Air Force’s 60 F-16s, which are due to be phased out between 2016 and 2020.

Full story
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=3245833&C=europe

 

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Choices

I think this is a political choice and maybe the right one for Denmark’s economy I don't live there. The JAS Gripen is a fine aircraft and the new advance D model might serve Denmark’s very well. But aircraft wise the Typhoon and F-35 are more advance and better platforms overall. If Denmark wanted to stay with a mid/light-mid size type aircraft a more modern Viper would have been more cost effected since the maintenance, parts, weapons etc, is all in place already and very little retraining would be needed. The Viper carries a larger payload, faster, battle proven, better range, and newer models could be AEAS equipped, and flown by other NATO countries. Maybe Denmark doesn't need to go up against modern SAM systems, or battle late model Flankers and the Gripen may work for them. Platform vs platform the Gripen isn't better then either the Typhoon or the 5th generation F-35.