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Car maker Saab ran out of time Monday when its Dutch owner filed for bankruptcy, calling time on a nine-month battle to rescue the struggling Swedish marque.....

'Combat aircraft contest not over' Ajai Shukla / Linkoping/ Sweden December 05, 2011, 0:13 IST There are celebrations at Linkoping, the home of the Gripen NG fighter, which is barely two hours from Stockholm in one of Sweden’s ultra-friendly inter-city trains. On Tuesday, the Swiss government announced its selection of the Gripen fighter for the Swiss Air Force, turning away the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Dassault Rafale. “If confirmed, a win in Switzerland (according to the Swiss constitution, this might even require a national referendum) will provide a much-needed boost to Saab's status as a fighter manufacturer, after its Gripen...

BREAKING: Swiss selection makes Saab Gripen an export 'ace' Switzerland has reportedly made the first move to become the fifth country outside Sweden to acquire the Saab Gripen fighter. If export sales were dogfight kills, the Gripen would now be an ace. [Update: Counting the Gripen sale to the UK Empire Test Pilot School, Switzerland is actually the sixth export customer. The foreign air force operators are the Czech Republic, Hungary, South Africa and Thailand.] The news is still based on unnamed sources within the federal council, but the reports from both Swiss and French media (including the Dassault-owned Le...

STOCKHOLM — Beleaguered Saab appears to once again have narrowly avoided bankruptcy, announcing on Friday that two Chinese companies will buy it for 100 million euros ($142 million), making it the second Swedish carmaker after Volvo to take the road to China. "After the better part of seven months of agony for the company we have come to a point where we can proudly say that we made it," Saab's chief executive Victor Muller, who has been scrambling for months to secure enough funding to keep the company afloat, told a conference call from Amsterdam. His comments came after Saab's...

Saab offers India ‘unjammable’ RBS 70 NG VSHORAD The RBS 70 NG. Photo: Saab The Swedish defense company, Saab, has offered the RBS 70 NG for the Indian tri-service tender for Very Short Range Air Defense (VSHORAD) systems. The tender is for an initial order estimated to be worth INR 27,000 crore (USD 5.4 billion) for over 800 launchers and over 5,000 missiles. Saab says it has sold more than 1600 systems and 17,000 missiles to 18 countries. This could be its single largest order if it works out for them. Bo Almqvist, Vice President at Saab briefed StratPost on...

"MUCH loved, seldom bought" might soon be the epitaph of Sweden’s struggling Saab. It seems unlikely that Trollhattan car firm will manage to swerve around its creditors once more. After a court last week rejected Saab’s request for a breathing space to reorganise its finances for the second time in three years, two unions opened bankruptcy proceedings on September 12th for unpaid wages. Saab now has only until September 26th to convince the court that the money for a rescue is on the way. Saab has been on the skids for some months. It has hardly made any cars since...

Leaked Sea Gripen briefing emerges in India By Greg Waldron on September 14, 2011 India defence blog Livefist has published a briefing about the proposed naval variant of Saab's Gripen fighter. The idea of a Sea Gripen is nothing new. In late May the company announced that it would set up a design centre for the proposed aircraft in the UK. As for the presentation itself, page five caught my eye, as it shows the world's carrier fleets. Interesting to see that Saab classifies Australia's two Canberra assault ships as carriers, though Australia has consistently said that the two flat...

Troubled Swedish carmaker Saab admitted Friday it was considering all possible options, amid media reports it might soon file for court protection as unpaid bills and salaries pile up. Saab's parent company Swedish Automobile (Swan), previously known as Spyker, and the automaker announced they were "aware of certain reports ... related to a possible filing by Saab ... for voluntary reorganisation under Swedish law," adding that they were "evaluating all available options." "Swan will update the market in case of new developments," the statement added. Saab went through a large-scale restructuring in 2009 to avoid bankruptcy, when it belonged to...

Troubled Swedish carmaker Saab, owned by Dutch group Swedish Automobile NV, is to apply for court protection from its creditors, public radio quoted sources as saying on Friday. Saab, rescued from bankruptcy last year by Swedish Automobile as former owner General Motors Co. prepared to shut it down, has struggled to raise funds to restart production, pay wages and settle suppliers' bills. Public radio's sources said the company would apply for court protection from creditors. It did not say when this would happen Saab declined to comment on the report. A spokesperson said the company continued to work on raising...

STOCKHOLM – Saab, the Swedish car company renowned for its sometimes quirky designs, moved closer to bankruptcy Thursday after it conceded that it didn't have any money to pay employees' wages. After months of production stoppages and problems with paying suppliers, Saab said the situation is so dire that it won't be able to pay its 3,700 employees, raising doubts over how long the brand can survive.

Saab's 'special mission' aircraft searches for customers By Lucy Burton Business reporter, BBC News, Sweden Framed by huge hangar doors, the planes in Saab's service and maintenance hangar sit together like actors on a stage. Every morning these aircraft at Sweden's Scavsta airport are provided fuelled and fully serviced for Saab's military and civilian customers. "It's our responsibility to keep the planes operational,'' says Bo Soderling, marketing director for Saab Services and Support. "If we're lucky," he says, "at the end of the day we get them back in working order". Any minor damage or small glitches are sorted by...

Saab fighter jet guns for orders By Jorn Madslien Business reporter, BBC News, Linkoping, Sweden The noise is earsplitting as the Gripen fighter jet takes off from a small airstrip on the outskirts of a small Swedish town, only to disappear amidst the clouds. The jet is manufactured by Saab, a brand commonly associated with a struggling carmaker, though this is not the same one. The fast-growing aerospace and defence group that shares the Saab name is not only quicker. It is also much more successful and important - both for Sweden and for the company itself. Investing for Sweden...

Saab Prepares for UK Expansion Global defence and security company, Saab AB will open new UK headquarters and draw on British engineering expertise in a new Saab Design Centre in London. With 200 employees already based throughout the UK, Saab is preparing to expand its reach into the British defence industry by opening a central London office to co-ordinate all in-country operations. The opening of the company’s new UK headquarters will be followed by the opening of an engineering design centre. The facility will capitalise on the UK’s maritime jet engineering expertise and is scheduled to open in the late...

Stockholm— Scrambling for a quick fix for its cash-strapped unit Saab, Spyker Cars NV on Monday signed a distribution deal with the Chinese company Pang Da, but postponed plans to start production in China to avoid regulatory issues. The Netherlands-based Spyker Cars said Pang Da will inject $92 million for a 24 percent stake in Spyker, and the two will form a 50/50 joint venture for the distribution of Saab cars in China.

The Swedish carmaker Saab once again teetering on the brink of financial disaster a little over a year after it was saved from bankruptcy, The Local’s Peter Vinthagen Simpson reviews the recent trials and tribulations of this once iconic brand. A little over a year after it was saved at the eleventh hour by an unlikely Dutch suitor, Saab is back in familiar territory - short of sales, short of prospects and, most importantly, short of cash. And just as in the weeks building up to the February 2010 sale of Saab by US GM to Dutch luxury car maker...

Nearly a month after suspending almost all production at its assembly plant Trollhaettan, Sweden, because it couldn't pay suppliers for parts, Spyker Cars NV's Saab Automobile is scrambling to finalize a plan to further finance operations before the unit collapses. Any deal now constructed to save Saab automobile production will involve an intricate web of international players that stretches from Russia to the U.S. Russian banker and investor Vladimir Antonov has tried for weeks to initiate an investment that might steady the cash-strapped Saab – Antonov already has in place a deal to purchase the portion of Spyker Cars' business...

Obama's Brazil trip may influence possible F/A-18 Hornet deal By Robert Koenig, Beacon Washington correspondent Posted 4:24 pm, Fri., 3.18.11 WASHINGTON - When President Barack Obama travels to Brazil this weekend, one of the many items on his agenda eventually could have an impact on thousands of aerospace workers in St. Louis. Aside from signing agreements on topics such as patents and scientific cooperation Obama and Brazil's president, Dilma Vana Rousseff, are expected to discuss opportunities for American companies in Brazil - and for Brazilian firms in this country. One of the U.S. companies with a potentially huge interest in...

Pilots itching to fly latest Gripens, seen as a new force in the region Published on February 23, 2011 After a long wait for the much-heralded Swedish-made Gripen jet fighters to be commissioned, Royal Thai Air Force pilots are now itching to fly the new aircraft that will replace vintage F-5 fighters. The Gripen, with the designated code of JAS-39 C/D, has technological advantages 30 years ahead of even the US-made F-16 fighters, the newest aircraft in the RTAF, according to Wing Cmdr Natthawut Duangsoongnern. One of six pilots who underwent the basic flight course on the Gripen, Natthawut said:...

Fighter deal bigger: 126 will rise to 260 February 13th, 2011 DC Correspondent Feb. 12: It is already known as the world’s biggest defence import deal in a long time. Now, it transpires, it is even bigger than that. The Indian Air Force is in the market to buy 126 Medium Multi-role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) from one of six foreign vendors bidding for the contract. Over time, however, the IAF plans to buy 260 of them, Deccan Chronicle has learnt. That means, what has been talked about as a $10-12 billion deal will eventually fetch the winner of the contract...

European fighters lead MMRCA race Ajai Shukla Yelahanka/ Bangalore February 10, 2011, It was a no-holds-barred duel at Aero India 2011 for a $10-billion (Rs 45,500 crore) prize. Turn by turn, four of the world’s most advanced fighter aircraft roared into the sky, keenly aware of the watching eyes of Indian ministry of defence (MoD) officials who would decide which of them was best suited for the Indian Air Force’s order of 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA). Their performances mirrored each fighter’s fortunes in the MMRCA race. In multiple interviews with MoD officials, IAF pilots and vendor representatives, Business...

At a press briefing on the eve of Aero India 2011 here in Bangalore, Saab which is pitching the Gripen fighter jet for the USD 11 billion Air Force Multi-Role Combat Aircraft competition promised Swedish Ministry of Defence official Mr. Hakan Jevrell promised true and full technology transfer. Mr Hakan Jevrell, representing the Swedish government, focused his message on full support, long term co-operation, full and true technology transfer, zero-corruption and high levels of integrity. In addition to Mr. Hakan Jevrell, the press briefing featured Mr. Hakan Bushke, CEO of Saab and Mr. Inderjit Sial who is the country head...

Reevaluation of Brazil’s FX-2 Fighter Program Could Help Saab January 21, 2011 tamir_eshel Brazilian new President Dilma Rousseff is apparently pushing back the decision on the acquisition of the new fighter aircraft for Brazil’s Air Force sometime to 2012. Local reports are citing reduced government expenditure as the reason for the delay. While the Rafale produced by France’s Dassault Aviation SA, was though to be the forerunner of Brazil’s FX-2 program, favored by former president Lola and the government the Swedish Gripen NG was though to be more affordable at 10 billion reals (US$6 billion) and having better export potential...

Exclusive: Rousseff "starting over" in Brazil jets tender By Brian Winter BRASILIA (Reuters) - New Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has decided to delay awarding a multi-billion dollar Air Force jet contract and reevaluate the finalists' bids, in a move that could signal a realignment of Brazil's strategic and defense alliances, sources with knowledge of the decision told Reuters. The surprise decision is a blow to France's Dassault, which as recently as last month looked like a lock to quickly win the deal, and puts its U.S.-based rival Boeing back in with a chance. Rousseff's predecessor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva,...

Win a Gripen flight at Aero India January 11, 2011 By Saurabh Joshi If you’ve ever dreamed about really, well and truly satisfying your need for speed, here’s your shot. Swedish defense company Saab has launched a contest that offers a grand prize of a flight on its Gripen NG fighter aircraft at Aero India in Bangalore next month. All you have to do is go to Gripen Top Guns, click on the Facebook Connect button and enter your login details. Joanna Sjölander, Director of Gripen in India, says, “Someone in India with a life long dream will be flying...

Swedish fighter jet tows sledges – YouTube video A Swedish fighter jet was used to tow three toboggans in a plane crazy stunt. This sledging clip on YouTube has really taken off Yep, it's snow joke - with the Mission Impossible theme playing in the background the jet powers along a snow-covered part of an unnamed airbase pulling three riders who are all dressed in pilots uniforms. What would have happened if the pilot at the controls of the plane – a Saab Viggen - had engaged the afterburners by accident doesn’t bear thinking about. Some seriously quick panning would...

WikiLeaks, Weaklings And Weasels Posted by Bill Sweetman at 12/3/2010 10:37 AM CST WikiLeaks cables show that US officials recommended delaying export approvals for a new Raytheon radar in order to undercut the Saab Gripen NG's chances in Norway, before the country's December 2008 decision to acquire the Joint Strike Fighter. The cables were originally reported (and linked) by Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet. The original Norwegian decision surprised and puzzled observers, both because of its tough repudiation of the Gripen and because of the $52 million quoted price of the JSF - which was a reach in 2008 and now appears...

Rivals Target JSF By Bill Sweetman London With the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program likely to be hit by further delays on top of the 13-month slip in development announced in February, competitors are beginning to see hope for the future despite tight budgets worldwide. The JSF program office canceled an appearance at Defense IQÂ’s October fighter conference here. People talking about other programs, though, were no longer shy about benchmarking their favorite jets against the ambitious U.S.-led project, now five years behind its original schedule with a sixth in the offing. Another conference theme was a broader definition of...

Boeing proposes Embraer link in bid for Brazil contract (AFP) – 1 hour ago SAO PAULO — Boeing is offering to partner with Brazil's Embraer on a new fighter jet, in an effort to strengthen its bid for a multi-billion-dollar Brazilian defense contract, the US manufacturer said in a report Monday. Joseph McAndrew, Boeing's vice president for Europe, Israel and America, told business publication Valor that the firm proposed 10 partnership projects with Brazil's aviation leader, including building a new plant in the country to build parts for Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet. The jet is locked in a heated competition...

, Sweden: Defence and security company Saab has received an order from FMV, the Swedish Defence Material Administration, for the delivery of 3-dimensional (3D) models to the Swedish Gripen simulators. The 3D-models will give the simulators a highly realistic visualisation model. The 3D-models will be generated by the system Rapid 3D Mapping based on aerial images, developed by Saab. “This is an important milestone that proves that 3D-models generated by our new product Rapid 3D Mapping can be used with excellent results for visualisation in simulators”, says Ulf Hellberg, Head of Business Development within Saab’s business area Dynamics

Admittedly, I'm biased. One of the prime reasons why I wish SAAB to survive is the fact that I'm Swedish. Sweden and SAAB is one. I have travelled, slept and ate in small SAABs. As our country grew richer and richer, SAABs more and more got associated with pioneering turbo engineering and yuppie lifestyles. However, unlike Volvo, SAAB never became a car for the vast masses over here in Europe. Perhaps in London, but not among the middle class in the Paradise of Sweden. Perhaps because SAAB is very much of an individualist's vehicle and the average Swede isn't much...

For Swedish carmaker Saab, its new 9-5 model could not be more important. Contributor David Hooper finds out if it lives up to all of its pre-launch hype, and considers the company’s plans for the future. Saab’s painful separation from General Motors has been well documented, but with new owner Spyker now in place, financial backing from the Swedish government and the European bank, an engine deal with BMW and a stunning new flagship model now on sale, the next mission in the carmaker’s story is ready for take off. The aircraft puns are quite unavoidable once you have driven...

More fuel under the wings of Gripen NG 21 September 2010, in News The Gripen NG Demo is now flying with new extra large drop-tanks. Instead of the more traditional 300 gallon tanks used by Gripen C/D these new external tanks can carry 450 gallons of fuel each. Image: The new drop-tanks are here seen in a combination with IRIS-T, Meteor and Paveway. Photo credit: Stefan Kalm. Longer range Combined with added spaces for internal fuel and a more fuel efficient engine Gripen NG will get substantially longer range and more time on station. The new drop-tanks are made by...

Saab is waiting on the outcome of the Brazilian air force's F-X2 fighter contest, but still believes it has the best product, says chief executive Ake Svensson. "I think it is up to president Lula [Luiiz Ignacio Lula da Silva] to decide which way he wants to go. But Gripen was number one in the air force evaluation, and we believe we are strongly competitive on price and industrial opportunities." Svensson says Saab's domestic support places its Gripen NG in a strong position for requirements in Brazil, India and numerous other countries around the world. "The Swedish government has clearly...

The first of four Royal Thai Air Force Gripen pilots and technicians are undergoing training in Sweden to allow Squadron 701 of the 7th Wing to go operational next year. Thailand is initially buying six Gripens, with a plan to grow that to 12 aircraft. Further purchases are possible, but will have to await the first operational experiences with the fighter in Thailand, says Wing Cdr. Jackkrit Thammavichai, who will be the first squadron commander. However, he says, “I foresee no problem” in making the case for more aircraft. Four pilots are now in Sweden to undergo training as instructor...

Gripen NG Demonstrator will be displayed to the public for the first time outside Sweden. The event will take place in the UK during the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) in Fairford 17–18 July and the following week at the Farnborough International Airshow. The fighter will be arriving in Farnborough on Monday, 19 July and will be on static display until Friday 23 July. Gripen NG Demonstrator is a flying platform for the development of new technologies and features incorporated into the Gripen NG – the next generation fighter with significantly increased combat range and endurance, increased payload and super-cruise...

Sweden Will Buy New Gripen Jul 14, 2010 By Bill Sweetman One question for Saab’s Gripen Next Generation (NG) project has always been: Why should export customers buy an aircraft when its home customer has not committed to it? In discussions in June at Saab’s Linkoping, Sweden, headquarters, it became apparent that the NG is firmly in national defense plans, but a formal announcement is being delayed for domestic reasons. “Sweden has committed to using the Gripen beyond 2040,” says Hans Rosen, head of Gripen marketing and campaigns. “The question is when to acquire the Gripen NG, and how many.”...

Sweden Will Buy New Gripen Jul 14, 2010 By Bill Sweetman One question for Saab’s Gripen Next Generation (NG) project has always been: Why should export customers buy an aircraft when its home customer has not committed to it? In discussions in June at Saab’s Linkoping, Sweden, headquarters, it became apparent that the NG is firmly in national defense plans, but a formal announcement is being delayed for domestic reasons. “Sweden has committed to using the Gripen beyond 2040,” says Hans Rosen, head of Gripen marketing and campaigns. “The question is when to acquire the Gripen NG, and how many.”...

FARNBOROUGH: Saab plots bright future for Gripen programme By Bartosz Glowacki A lot has happened since Saab rolled out its Gripen NG demonstrator in April 2008. Although the Swedish manufacturer has not secured a new order for its fighter product since this time, flight-testing is proceeding well, and it has also added another member to the family in the Sea Gripen concept. NEW WEAPONS The first phase of Gripen NG flight-testing started in May 2008 and totalled 79 sorties. A maximum speed of over Mach 1.6 was demonstrated, along with "supercruise" capability at more than M1.2, says Hans Rosén, head...

Saab designs combat management system for next-generation submarines Defence and security company Saab has received an order from Kockums AB for overall design of the combat management system as well as solutions for integrating the system aboard next-generation submarines. The order is worth approximately MSEK 100. The order follows the contract recently signed between Kockums and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) for the overall design of Sweden's next-generation submarines. Saab’s contract includes a combat management system as well as solutions for integrating the system and subsystems on board. "Saab has world leading expertise within the area of naval command...

Saab waits on Brazil and India for Sea Gripen go ahead By Gareth Jennings 18 June 2010 Saab will only develop an aircraft carrier-capable version of its JAS 39 Gripen NG fighter should either India or Brazil select the land-based variant to fulfil their fighter replacement programmes, the company has said. Eddy de la Motte, Gripen campaign director for India, told reporters on 12 June that development of the aircraft has, to date, been driven by its core customer, the Swedish Air Force (SwAF). With no Swedish requirement for a navalised aircraft, it requires a customer with a carrier capability...

New Gripen Firms Up Posted by Bill Sweetman at 6/14/2010 1:05 AM CDT According to Saab executives, the decision to go ahead with the Gripen Next Generation has already been taken by the Swedish government. If Saab wins one or more of the upcoming fighter competitions - with Brazil and Switzerland among those closest to a decision date - it will affect the timing of Sweden's own deployment of the Gripen NG, already identified by the Swedish military as the JAS 39E/F. But the decision to acquire the fighter has already been taken, according to head of Gripen marketing and...

European fighters become 25% cheaper Ajai Shukla / Berlin June 10, 2010, 0:20 IST Economic woes provide region’s aerospace industry opportunity to undercut American rivals. Plummeting European currencies, battered by the euro zone financial crisis, are providing European aerospace corporations an opportunity to undercut their American rivals, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, in the contest to sell India 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) for a price that has been estimated at $11 billion, or about Rs 44,000 crore. The six contenders for the MMRCA contract — US companies Boeing and Lockheed Martin, Russian company MiG and European companies Dassault, Eurofighter...

Saab Lures Bulgaria to Buy Gripen Fighter Jets Defense | April 14, 2010, Wednesday The Swedish company Saab has offered Bulgaria Gripen fighter jets at the price of second-hand US F-16 planes. Daniel Boestad, Director of Saab International for Bulgaria, has stated, as cited by Darik Radio, that the offer is favorable for Bulgaria because it saves money without compromising on quality. According to Boestad, the fighter aircraft offered by Gripen have a number of advantages compared to second-hand F-16 planes or the Russian MiG-29 planes that are currently employed by the Bulgarian Air Force such as the lower maintenance...

Saab’s special weapon in fighter jet sales By Andrew Ward in Stockholm Published: March 29 2010 20:49 When Sweden competes with France for a big overseas business contract, there is one trump card its Gallic rival cannot match: a sitting monarch. So it was clear that Saab’s battle with Dassault for a multi-billion dollar Brazilian fighter jet order was nearing crunch time when King Carl XVI Gustaf landed in Brasilia last week to make a sales pitch to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Dassault’s Rafale fighter is considered favourite for the long-awaited deal, involving an initial 36 jets with...

Swedish group Saab said Thursday it was "surprised" at Romania's choice of F-16 second-hand aircraft to the detriment of its Gripen and asked authorities to submit all offers to parliament. "We are surprised at the statement indicating that the Supreme Defence Council is pursuing the old F-16s, without any offset, due to lack of financial resources,", said Richard Smith, Saab's marketing director for Romania. "Unfortunately, the Romanian armed force may end up with someone else's junk." The Supreme Council announced Wednesday it would submit to parliament its decision to purchase 24 F-16 aircraft currently used by the US air force....

Saab J 35 Draken turns 50 By admin | March 19th, 2010 Training on the new J 35 Draken jet began in March 1960 at the F 13 Bråvalla wing in Norrköping. This means that fifty years have now passed since the Draken – considered by many as one of the world’s most beautiful planes – was deployed by the Swedish Air Force. The Draken, the first plane in Sweden to be designed for supersonic flight, was developed at the beginning of the 1950s. The first test flight was in 1955 and it broke the sound barrier for the first...

The Swedish Defence Ministry has awarded the domestic Saab Group a $280 million contract to upgrade the Gripen fleet of fighter aircraft operating in the Swedish Air Force. The deal, spanned for a period of four years, will enhance operational effectiveness of the fighters by upgrading countermeasures and communication systems. The entire fleet of aircraft will also be equipped with advanced weapons and new improved radar systems with increased range, Saab said. The order also includes other measures to further reduce the operating costs, based on experience gathered from more than 130,000 flight hours. Improvements are also being introduced to...

$11 bn in the balance, a no-show by Gripen fighter The high-voltage $11 bn contest to sell India 126 Medium Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MMRCA) is reaching the end of the trials phase Ajai Shukla / New Delhi March 9, 2010, 0:43 IST The high-voltage $11 billion contest to sell India 126 Medium Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MMRCA) is reaching the end of the trials phase in a blaze of potential controversy. Today, the last of the six contenders being evaluated by the Indian Air Force — the Swedish Gripen — will fly into Bangalore for trials. But Business Standard has learnt...

BAE cuts links to Saab and ill-fated fighter David Robertson BAE Systems is to dispose of its stake in Saab, the Swedish aerospace company, bringing to an end its controversial relationship with the Gripen fighter aircraft. BAE, Europe’s largest defence company, said today that it had sold half of its 20.5 per cent stake in Saab for SwKr1 billion (£93 million). The shares were sold to Investor AB, a Swedish investment fund that now owns 30 per cent of Saab’s capital and 39.5 per cent of the voting rights. BAE said that it would dispose of its remaining shares through...

Gripen presents naval variant to navy Wednesday, February 17, 2010 By Saurabh Joshi Gripen has made presentations of its Sea Gripen fighter aircraft to the Indian Navy last week. Tony Ogilvy, Vice President, International Marketing for Gripen informed StratPost that his company had made presentations to the navy last week and said the response was ‘very good’. Ogilvy, who is also a former Royal Navy Buccaneer and Sea Harrier pilot, said the ‘inherent design characteristics’ of the Gripen aircraft make it ‘very similar to a deck based aircraft’. He said that in the two-hour presentation, which took place last Friday,...