Saab has received a support contract for the service, repairs and maintenance of the South African Air Force´s Gripen C/D jet fighters. The order value is MSEK 333 (MZAR 532) over a three-year period. The contract runs for three years from 2022 until 2025 and covers service, repairs and maintenance as well as minor updates of the support and training systems of the South African Air Forces Gripen system. In 1999, South Africa signed a contract with BAe/Saab for the procurement of 26 Gripens (C/D standard) with minor modifications to meet their requirements.
“I am very happy and satisfied that we have now reached an agreement for a new support contract, so that we in the very best way can support our customers with their operational needs,” says Åsa Schöllin, head of Saab´s business unit Gripen Sustainment.
Deliveries to the South African Air Force commenced in April 2008. By April 2011, 18 aircraft (nine two-seater aircraft and nine single-seaters) had been delivered. While the establishment of a Gripen Fighter Weapon School at Overberg Air Force Base in South Africa had been under consideration, in July 2013 Saab ruled out the option due to a lack of local support for the initiative; Thailand is an alternative location being considered, as well as the ?áslav Czech air base. In December 2013, Armscor awarded Saab a long-term support contract for the company to perform engineering, maintenance, and support services on all 26 Gripens through 2016.
The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a light single-engine multirole fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace and defense company Saab AB. As of 2021, more than 271 Gripens of all models, A–F, have been built. Gripen C-series is the most reliable swing-role combat aircraft available in the world today. Over 150 million people in five countries on three continents rely on Gripen C-series to protect their sovereign air space and ensuring their independence. Gripen C/D has successfully participated in Nato-led as well as numerous exercises and air policing assignments across the world.