Alan Minyard wrote in
news
On 17 Dec 2003 15:01:41 -0800, (Karl)
wrote:

The Czech cabinet decided Wednesday to select new SAAB/BAe JAS
39C Gripen 4th Generation Multirole jetfighters as replacement
over their MIG-21 fleet.
The Swedish offer outbid 4 other contenders, with the US offer
of used F-16's ending in last place, the Belgian F-16 offer came
2nd.

http://www.gripen.com
http://www.saab.se

Gripen have now been selected by the four nations;
Sweden, South Africa, Hungary and the Czech Republic.


In related news, Saab Bofors Dynamics received Tuesday a further
order from MBDA UK on the development of the METEOR missile.
JAS 39 Gripen will become the aircraft to test the system.

"Meteor is a beyond visual range missile approximately 3.5
meters in length, for use against air targets. In the future it
will replace the American AMRAAM system. The development of the
Meteor air-to-air missile is being carried out as an
international industrial project involving the UK, Germany,
Sweden, France, Italy and Spain."

The Grippens are a gift. When something is completely "free"
it rather skews the "cost/benefit" equation. This was simply
a PR stunt on the part of the Swedes.

Al Minyard

On the other hand it shows that it is possible to produce
an advanced and effective weapons system at a manageble
cost. In the words of Colonel Per-Olof Eldh:

http://www.gripen.com/gripen_news/gr...ws_2001_01.pdf

“Compared to other fighter aircraft
currently in service, Gripen is a totally
superior product,” he boasts. “It is a
perfect blend of simplicity and sophistication,
and by far the best handling aircraft
I have ever flown.“

“While its flyaway price is comparable to that of a
new F-16 C/D, Gripen’s operating cost of less than
US$2,500 / flying hour (including fuel and all levels
of maintenance) is unrivalled.


Regards...