Saab has extended its support and maintenance agreement with the Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten) regarding the SK60 trainer aircraft, which is used for pilot training. The contract is valid from 1 July 2020 up to 2025, with 2026 as an optional year. The initial order value amounts to MSEK 875. The extended support agreement means that Saab will continue to serve as primary supplier, and is responsible for the operation, maintenance, and availability of all SK60 aircraft at the Swedish Armed Forces. The commitment calls for Saab to ensure that the system is airworthy and readily available for Swedish Air Force Wings as per the Swedish Armed Forces’ requirements.
The SK 60 trainer aircraft, used by the Swedish Air Force, is a variant of the Saab 105 prototype. It is a jet-driven trainer aircraft with ejection seats for the instructor and trainee. Adopted in 1962, the first SK 60 aircraft was flown in July 1963 and a total of 150 SK 60 aircraft were delivered to the SAF between 1966 and 1968. It entered into service in 1967, mainly for training purposes, replacing the De Havilland Vampire. On 29 April 2015, a request for information (RFI) was issued by the Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) for a new Military Flying Training System to provide long term basic and advanced training fleet functions.
