Amid reports that the Indian Air Force (IAF), which is facing a significant fighter jet shortage, is considering procurement of 114 Rafale fighter jets from France, Swedish aerospace and defence major Saab AB made a major pitch to India, offering the creation of the world's most advanced aerospace industry in the country, comprising multi-layered design, production and maintenance as well as induction of fighter jet Gripen E.
The pitch included “the biggest transfer of technology” and offers to make in India.
For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India
According to the company, powered by GE F414G engine, the E-series of the fighter is for customers with more pronounced threats or wider territories to secure. "Gripen E incorporates cutting-edge technologies, the latest systems, sensors, weapons and pods to ensure combat advantage, delivering air superiority in highly contested environments," the company notes.
Mikael Franzen, Chief Marketing Officer, Gripen, and Vice President of Business Area Aeronautics at the Swedish group, claimed that Gripen E is the most modern and cost-effective fighter jet system available currently, reports news agency PTI. He said the induction of this fighter jet into the Indian Air Force will help significantly improve the air power.
ALSO READ: Is HAL out of India's fifth-generation fighter jet race? Company clarifies its position on AMCA
"In our engagements with the government of India, we have proposed the creation of the world's most advanced aerospace industry, comprising multi-layered design, production and maintenance. The highest availability of any fighter gives an unrivalled combat mass to counter any adversary. Gripen will fit perfectly in IAF together with Rafale and Tejas," PTI quoted Frazen as saying.
He said Gripen is the only fighter jet with the ability not only to incorporate new technology without major fleet downtime due to its ability to rapidly qualify and certify new software.
He noted that Gripen offers the IAF a unique capability to build, qualify, incorporate and certify their own software without the involvement of the manufacturer.
"Saab would be making the biggest transfer of technology and capability in the history of defence aviation, engaging with 300+ of tier 1,2 and 3 companies, including MSMEs. The infusion of industrial capabilities and new technologies makes Gripen a potential stepping stone to bolster India's indigenous fighter projects such as AMCA," he was quoted as saying.
He proposed that Saab would be able to deliver aircraft quickly as soon as the third year of the signing of the contract.
"There is a blueprint not only to build aircraft, initially out of Sweden and then in India at a rapid pace, but also to build an Indian ecosystem of Indian companies, in parallel. This will also form a regional industrial hub with significant opportunities for export," he added, reports PTI.
This approach will empower the IAF to incorporate customised national software and AI in the highly agile platforms at the core of Gripen avionics, which can be rapidly scaled up as greater processing power and AI evolve, he said.
