Austria is facing a landmark decision on the future of its active and passive airspace surveillance. Various options are under discussion – including a one-fleet solution with new Saab Gripen C/D aircraft to replace the existing Eurofighter and Saab-105Ö as part of a government-to-government deal (G2G). We spoke to Saab Sales Executive Per Alriksson about this variant and the advantages of the Gripen.
Mr. Alriksson, Saab could play a role alongside other manufacturers in the upcoming decision on the future of active and passive air surveillance. A single-fleet solution with Gripen C/D as a replacement for Eurofighter and Saab-105Ö is to be discussed?
That is correct. Gripen C is the single-seater version, Gripen D a two-seater. With the single-seater we would cover the active component of airspace surveillance and with the two-seater there would be an excellent training option. The bottom line is that the current aircraft fleet of the Austrian Air Force can be completely replaced – and that also applies to the future. The Gripen system is being continuously developed and upgraded. This ensures that the Austrian Air Force will always be at the cutting edge of technology throughout the entire service life of Gripen.
Could Gripen also be part of a possible 2-fleet solution?
Gripen can produce all the required annual flight hours – be it with training or in missions such as air policing at supersonic speed. As a multi-role fighter aircraft, Gripen guarantees reliable operational readiness around the clock, in all weathers and with all-weather and modern weapon systems. There would therefore be no need for another aircraft type in addition to Gripen. The procurement would thus follow the report of the Special Commission “Active Airspace Surveillance” from 2017 (note: click here for the report), which recommended the operation of a single-fleet solution with single-seaters and two-seaters.
In your opinion, what are the advantages of Gripen compared to the other candidates?
Gripen meets all the requirements of the Austrian Air Force and is cost-efficient from day one. The low operating costs, combined with a very robust and capable aircraft, make the jet a very attractive solution for any modern air force, including Austria. From a military point of view, protecting its own airspace is one of the most important tasks of a country and this task – especially air policing missions – can only be fulfilled with a supersonic jet.
How quickly could Saab deliver new jets?
Should Austria decide to replace its current fleet with a single-fleet solution, brand-new aircraft would be delivered directly from the Swedish factory in Linköping within 24 months of the contract being signed. With a seamless transition from the current 2-fleet operation and efficient training of pilots and technicians, the Austrian Air Force would be operational within approximately two years of signing the contract.
Could Austrian industry also benefit in some way from an order?
In the area of aircraft maintenance (MRO – Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul), Saab has been working closely with the Austrian industry for many years. Customer-specific solutions are also developed to reconcile the required availability with the lowest possible operating and acquisition costs. The wide range of support solutions depends on the degree of autonomy required by the customer and extends all the way to complete “turnkey” solutions. In all of this, however, we always ensure maximum utilization of existing infrastructure. Ultimately, this support concept is about building capacity in the local industry and optimizing supply chains.
Here for more news about Saab and here to the other articles in our “5 questions to” series.
