DTN News - SWISS DEFENSE NEWS: Saab Gripen Is The Preferred Choice For Switzerland

DTN News - SWISS DEFENSE NEWS: Saab Gripen Is The Preferred Choice For Switzerland
>In a press conference today, Swiss Defence Minister Ueli Maurer reiterated Gripen E/F as the optimal solution for Switzerland.
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Federal Department of Defence - Switzerland
 (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - February 15, 2012:  After an initial evaluation document reached media, the Swiss Defence Minister Ueli Maurer called for a press conference 

(http://www.vbs.admin.ch/internet/vbs/de/home/documentation/news/news_detail.43408.nsb.html) to comment on the rumors that Gripen would not meet the Swiss Air Force requirements. Today, the Swiss defence authorities reconfirmed Gripen as the optimal solution for Switzerland.

On 30 November 2011, the Swiss Federal Council selected the Gripen E/F as preferred candidate to replace their present F-5 aircraft. Saab and Sweden are now in negotiations with Switzerland, optimizing the complete package and preparing for the acquisition of Gripen E/F.

Saab is confident that the Gripen package gives Switzerland what it needs in all areas, particularly in terms of a fighter that delivers the best price-to-performance ratio with a long-term and agreed development path. Saab is committed to deliver a comprehensive Industrial Package that delivers long-term benefits to all of society. The acquisition of Gripen will further strengthen the partnership between Switzerland and Sweden.

Gripen, in operational service with five air forces, is an unquestionable capable fighter system that delivers its tasks. It is a new generation, multi-role fighter aircraft which uses state-of-the-art technology. It is capable of performing an extensive range of Air-to-Air, Air-to-Surface and reconnaissance missions employing the most modern range of weapons. Gripen has been part of NATO’s QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) organization since 2005. The operating air forces have participated with Gripen in several large, international exercises (including two Red Flag exercises in the US) with very good result.

With approximately 2,000 flight hours in combat missions over Libya and delivery of close to 40 per cent of the total need of Tactical Reconnaissance in the NATO operation Unified Protector, Gripen is a very capable fighter aircraft.

Saab has been an innovation powerhouse for advanced defence and security technology for 75 years, with system knowledge and system integration as core competencies. Today, Saab has operations in more than 30 countries, while our solutions, products and services are sold to more than a hundred countries. Saab reported sales of SEK 23,498 billion and an operating margin of 12,5 per cent for the full year 2011.

Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions ranging from military defence to civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents and constantly develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs.


*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Federal Department of Defence - Switzerland
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DTN News: Swiss Abort Major Fighter Jet Purchase

DTN News: Swiss Abort Major Fighter Jet Purchase

Source: DTN News - - This article / report compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources including AFP

(NSI News Source Info) GENEVA, Switzerland - August 26, 2010: Switzerland on Wednesday postponed its search for new air force fighter jets for several years, just weeks before it was expected to announce a decision on the multibillion dollar tender. Swiss Defence Minister Ueli Maurer said at a news conference that the postponement of the replacement of about half of the Swiss army's ageing fleet of F-5 Tiger aircraft "will last at most until 2015". The tender launched in January 2008 led to a fierce battle between European aerospace group EADS's Eurofighter, French firm Dassault's Rafale and the Gripen built by Sweden's Saab. The Swiss government said in a statement that it had decided, "on the proposal of the Defence Ministry, to adjourn the partial replacement of 54 obsolete Tiger F-5 aircraft." It cited budgetary constraints that emerged during the evaluation of the aircraft as well as a desire to use resources to cover other military shortcomings. Switzerland also has 33 US-made FA-18 Hornet fighter jets for its frontline defence force. Maurer, who took office 11 months after the process was launched, was a fierce critic of the tender, estimating that it would have wiped out all other major military purchases for eight years. A decision on the choice of aircraft was last postponed in the spring, when Swiss media reported that the defence minister had estimated the cost of replacing 22 Tigers at 3.5 billion to 5.0 billion Swiss francs (2.7 billion to 3.8 billion euros; 3.4 billion to 4.8 billion dollars). When the tender was launched, Switzerland had planned to spend 2.2 to 2.5 billion francs to replace the F-5s, some of which are more than 30 years old. The Swiss government is now aiming to secure an adequate budget next year with a view to a purchase for the second half of the decade.

*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com

DTN News: Swiss Defense Minister Draws Fire With Billion-Euro Jet Fighter Plan

DTN News: Swiss Defense Minister Draws Fire With Billion-Euro Jet Fighter Plan

* A Swiss plan to spend billions on fighter jets has stirred up debate. As the country looks to trim public spending, with security threats at a minimum, one question is increasingly being asked: Why?

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources including Author: Imogen Foulkes (rc) - Editor: Susan Houlton DW-World.com

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 22, 2010: As Switzerland is making a number of budget cuts, many people expected defense to be a natural candidate for cutbacks. And so there was surprise when a leaked document from the defense ministry revealed plans to increase spending, by ordering new fighter jets at a cost of up to 3.8 billion euros ($ 4.9 billion). Defense Minister Ueli Maurer wants to replace the country's aging fleet of fighters, purchased as long ago as 1976. He would need an increase in the defense budget to pay for his plan to order 22 fighters. Maurer is from the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP), traditionally strong supporters of the Swiss military. However, even some of the defense minister's party colleagues, such as Toni Bortoluzzi, are skeptical. "We've been talking for ages about reducing the budget," said Bortoluzzi. "We're really going to have to have a discussion about this, to see whether this amount of money is available. "Frankly, I don't think you can just spend and spend." Politicians on the left say that Maurer is planning to spend tax payers' money needlessly, in an effort to raise his profile within the SVP, a member of the governing coalition. "I have the feeling the defense ministry has come up with a wish list, so that the defense minister himself can look like a great friend of the army – above all to get the support of his own party," said Evi Allamann of the Social Democrat party. "The fact is these proposals, in this day and age, will do little or nothing for our national security." Under the Swiss political system, voters could still vote down the plan in a national referendum. Peter Malama of Switzerland's centre-right FDP party said he did not believe that people, or other politicians, would agree to spend such a sum. "As a strategy, in the context of what our army needs to do in today's global security situation, 5 billion is at least one billion too much. "What's more I think these plans are delusional, completely unrealistic, and most important, they will never, ever, get a political majority." Contenders for the plane-building contract include the Anglo-German-Italian Eurofighter, built by EADS with BAE Systems and Finmeccanica; France's Rafale, built by Dassault Aviation; and the JAS 39 Gripen, built by Sweden's Saab.

*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com