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PICTURE: Saab's Gripen Demo makes first flight with AESA radar By Craig Hoyle Saab's Gripen Demo aircraft has made its first test flight since receiving a key technology on offer to potential export customers including Brazil, India and Switzerland. Now equipped with the antenna and other elements of Selex Sensors and Airborne Systems' Vixen 1000E/ES05 Raven active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, the two-seat demonstrator resumed its flight activities on 27 October, when it performed a sortie from Saab's Linköping site in Sweden. The heavily modified B-model aircraft had been on the ground in refit for the last several months,...

Saab Automobile has received permission to borrow 4 billion kronor from the European Investment Bank, the bank’s board revealed on Wednesday. Prior to Wednesday’s meeting, most indications were that the EIB board, which includes representatives from all 27 European Union members states, would approve Saab’s request. The EIB leadership group had recommended to the board that the bank agree to lend the Swedish car company up to €400 million, or roughly 4.1 billion kronor ($590 million), having concluded that Saab’s application was sufficiently strong. The loan is a critical lifeline for Saab, and was a key element for the planned...

SA could benefit if Brazil chooses Gripen over French fighter By: Keith Campbell 16th October 2009 Should Swedish aircraft manufacturer Saab win the current Brazilian FX-2 contest for a new fighter with its Gripen NG, a docu- ment leaked to media in Brazil indicates, part of the aircraft would be made in South Africa. The document, obtained by the defence news website, Defesa@Net, shows that Saab is propos- ing that part of the airframe for Brazilian Gripens be built in South Africa. The Swedish company is also proposing the use of some South African mission equipment and weapons systems. Saab...

Saab offers advanced radar for Gripen IN, clarifies some controversies 08:20 GMT, September 10, 2009 8ak | Yesterday Saab finally provided some details on the AESA radar and presented some explanation to quell rumours about the Gripen IN. Firstly, the AESA radar is being developed by Selex Galileo and this crucial part of the offering will not be subject to U.S. EUMA laws. In July, Jerusalem Post broke a story saying that the U.S. had pressured IAI to withdraw from jointly offering sensitive technologies such as their AESA radar. Mr Eddy de la Motte, India Director for Saab said that...

Brazil's president likes French fighter aircraft BRASILIA (AFP) - France's offer to transfer technology to Brazil gives its Rafale fighter an "exceptional comparative advantage" over Swedish-made Gripen, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said. "A country of Brazil's importance cannot buy a product from another country without technology transfer," Lula said in an exclusive interview with AFP. "France has shown itself to be the most flexible country in terms of transferring technology, and evidently, this is an exceptional comparative advantage," the Brazilian president said. The Rafale, made by France's Dassault, is in fierce competition with Saab's Swedish-made Gripen and Boeing's...

Lobbying steps up ahead of Brazil jet fighter decision By Marc Burleigh (AFP) – 7 hours ago SAO PAULO — French, Swedish and US defense companies pursuing a four-billion-dollar deal to replace Brazil's aging fleet of fighter jets are stepping up lobbying efforts ahead of a decision expected within the next couple of months. The intensification of the campaigns comes after Brazil's likely announcement was pushed back from September to October at the earliest in order to ask "incredibly detailed" technical questions of the three competitors, a source in one of the companies said. France's Dassault, which is fielding its...

General Motors has agreed the terms of a sale of its loss-making Saab division to Koenigsegg, a Swedish manufacturer of sports cars based near Malmö, employing only 45 people. Augie Fabela, Koenigsegg’s chairman, said that the American carmaker would remain a minority owner in Saab until it became profitable, but added that some finance for the deal had yet to be secured. Koenigsegg is hoping for a SwKr4.3 billion ($778 million) loan to Saab from the European Investment Bank. Koenigsegg also needs to raise a further SwKr3 billion. Carl-Peter Forster, the head of GM Europe, said: “This contract is an...

Koenigsegg, the Swedish luxury sports carmaker set to buy Saab Automobile from US firm General Motors, is confident that the company can be rescued, the firm's co-owner said on Saturday. GM, which has now filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States, placed Saab on the market in February as part of its attempts to slim down its brand range and return to profitability. A Sveriges Television (SVT) report on Thursday said Koenigsegg and a group of Norwegian investors had signed a letter of intent to buy Saab. Bård Eker, whose holding company Eker Group holds a 49 percent stake...

Sporty Swedish car maker Koenigsegg has teamed up with a group of Norwegian investors to buy Saab from General Motors, according to state broadcaster Sveriges Television's news show Rapport. Koenigsegg has signed a declaration of intent with regard to the purchase, with more detailed negotiations set to continue over the coming months. The sports car maker, based in Ängelholm in southwest Sweden, has secured the backing of Norwegian investors, according to Rapport. Koenigsegg has long been named as one of the parties interested in snapping up the ailing Swedish auto giant. Earlier on Thursday, the Swedish trade ministry indicated that...

FRANKFURT — General Motors is close to a deal to sell Saab, the Swedish carmaker, to Koenigsegg, a manufacturer of high-end sports cars that is also from Sweden, a person close to the negotiations said Thursday. “We are still working on the deal,” the person said, requesting anonymity because the agreement is not final. “It is not the done deal that some people in Sweden seem to think it is.” Swedish television reported that a group of Norwegian investors are also part of the deal.

PARIS AIR SHOW: Gripping Gripen By Craig Hoyle Saab is reporting an unprecedented level of interest in its flagship Gripen combat aircraft, despite a high-profile and ongoing spat with the Norwegian defence ministry, which last November rejected its next-generation offering in favour of Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. "We're saturated with opportunities at the moment," says Bob Kemp, senior vice-president sales and marketing for Gripen International. The company fielded five requests for proposals in 2008, plus four requests for information, he says. "As an organisation we're established to handle one RFP and one RFI a year. People were pretty...

Gripen revives war of words over Norwegian fighter assessment By Craig Hoyle Saab-led Gripen International has revived its war of words linked to the Norwegian defence ministry's selection of Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and rejection of its Gripen NG offering last November. The move comes as the next-generation version of the Swedish fighter is in the final phase of competitions in Brazil and Switzerland, and as Saab attempts to revive stalled procurement efforts in three eastern European states. Oslo prompted a furious response from Saab chief executive Åke Svensson last year after eliminating the Gripen from its fighter...

Wide-Angle Radar For Gripen NG Posted by Bill Sweetman at 5/1/2009 1:00 AM CDT Back around Aero-India, certain of Gripen's competitors (you know who you are) were circulating the rumor that the NG version was in trouble because it didn't have a radar. The demonstrator will fly with a Thales active electronically scanned array (AESA) but the French government and Dassault - now seeing the NG as a competitor in India and Brazil - had blocked the export of a production radar. By that time, though, it was pretty clear that Saab was talking to Selex - which, back when...

February 21, 2009 Saab buys time from creditors as it looks for ways to keep afloat Managers said the deal marked a 'new chapter in Saab's history' Christine Buckley and Tom Bawden Saab, the struggling Swedish carmaker that is being cut loose from General Motors, yesterday won bankruptcy protection from its creditors as it tries to mount a survival plan. The loss-making division has until early April to devise a plan and creditors must approve any scheme before it goes ahead. Saab, which is for sale, said it was looking for a partner and/or investors to raise funds. It is...

STOCKHOLM -(Dow Jones)- Swedish car maker Saab Automobile AB Friday was granted protection from its creditors so that it can be reorganized and said it will seek to separate from its owner, General Motors Corp. (GM). "We are now recreating Saab Automobile as an independent unit," Saab Chief Executive Jan-Ake Jonsson said in a statement after the Vanersborg District Court in southwestern Sweden approved its request to begin the reorganization process. Sweden's government maintained its arms-length approach, saying it doesn't plan any support for Saab, though it didn't rule out the possibility of guaranteeing loans that Saab has sought from...

Friday, Saab filed for bankruptcy protection from it's creditors. Saab is a Swedish-based subsidiary of GM. This move came after the Swedish government refused GM's begging for a bailout. This is very strange situation. Socialist Sweden is refusing to bailout their automotive industry. Allegedly, capitalist America is throwing billions of taxpayer dollars down the automotive bailout sinkhole. I never thought I would say this, but I hope our government finds the wisdom of Sweden. That really left a bad taste in my mouth.

The Swedish car-maker Saab Automobile was on the brink of failure on Thursday night after General Motors threatened to walk away, and the Swedish government refused to come to the rescue. An emergency meeting by the Saab board adjourned without deciding whether to seek protection from creditors, a move known in Sweden as "reconstruction". It is unclear whether the beloved brand -- produced in Trollhattan near Gothenberg since the late 1940s -- can be saved. General Motors is slashing 47,000 jobs worldwide to shore up its home base and to assure Congress that US federal aid will save American jobs...

Saab celebrates 'supercruise' test success for Gripen Demo By Craig Hoyle Saab's Gripen Demo aircraft has passed a significant milestone in its ongoing test programme, with the two-seater having on 21 January demonstrated its "supercruise" performance for the first time. Company test pilot Magnus Ljungdahl says the aircraft was flown to a speed of more than Mach 1.2 at 28,000ft (8,540m) above the Baltic Sea, and adds: "Without using afterburner I maintained the same speed until I ran out of test area." The sortie was conducted from Saab's Linköping test centre. Saab says the supercruise event forms part of a...

Sweden's troubled carmakers, Volvo and Saab, have been given a 28bn kronor (£2.3bn, $3.5bn) government bail-out to help them cope with falling demand. This comes after the US House of Representatives approved a $14bn (£9.4bn) rescue for US car firms. Volvo and Saab had been asking for Swedish state support because of the financial woes of their US owners. The plan consists of a maximum of 20bn kronor in credit guarantees, and up to 5bn kronor in rescue loans. As well as the credit guarantees and rescue loans, the government said it would also earmark 3bn kronor in research and...

If Russia and Sweden once again will find themselves in a military conflict (last time was 1809, when Sweden lost Finland), a wild stab in the dark of a guess would be that Gripens will play a role in fending off the bear. The SAAB Gripen suffered from some initial problems, but has turned out a very interesting and competent plane. This is, to a large extent, thanks to British BAE Systems. God save the Queen. In order to watch the recent "show off" at Linköping, Sweden, just click the link below.

Sweden's Gripen competes with the F-35 By BOB COX rcox@star-telegram.com FARNBOROUGH, England — Just a few years ago, Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter was widely viewed as the world’s leading next-generation, high-technology aircraft, with no strong Western competitor. That’s no longer the case. Saab, the Swedish industrial conglomerate better known in the U.S. for performance cars than airplanes, has impressed potential aircraft buyers with an aggressive marketing campaign for its upgraded Gripen fighter jet. Denmark and Norway, two nations that have invested in the F-35, are now holding competitions pitting the F-35 against the Gripen. Denmark is...

FARNBOROUGH 2008: Saab pitches Gripen NG as JSF alternative The export market for the Saab Gripen fighter is starting to take off. “It’s all happening at a tremendous pace” says Bob Kemp, senior vice president for international sales & marketing at Gripen International, the company that handles sales of the Swedish aircraft. In the days leading up to the show, Gripen International submitted a proposal to Switzerland, claiming the Gripen offered the most cost-effective and proportionate replacement for the Swiss Air Force’s ageing Northrop Grumman F-5E/F fighters. Rival aircraft such as the Dassault Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon would both...

Saab updates sales vision for next-generation Gripen By Niall O'Keeffe Saab's Gripen Demo aircraft, intended as a bridge to the next generation version of the fighter, has completed its third test flight, and is expected to log between 40 and 60 by year-end, as the project builds towards its second phase. In its Phase I guise the demonstrator incorporates a new landing gear and weapons pylons, plus a General Electric F414G engine. Phase II upgrades will include a new modular avionics system, which Saab says will use layers and partitions to isolate system components and separate flight-critical from mission functions....

Every nation could be described as a manifestation of a unique trait of character and most countries furthermore nurture, give emphasize to and celebrate this national identity of theirs. Some examples of such key national characters (please DO comment if you feel inclined to); USA: Liberty Italy: Creativity France: Refinement India: Spirituality Germany: Self-discipline Finland: "Sisu" (a Finnish term meaning "To have guts") Britain: Elevatedness Denmark: "Hygge" (a Danish word meaning "Good-naturedness", of mind as well as of deed) Spain: Passion China: Cultivation Russia: Chaos - just joking, I would actually say "Heart" (in the sense of having a big...

Gripen Demonstrator – The Future has Arrived! (Source: Gripen International; issued April 23, 2008) Today in Linköping, Sweden, Saab and its powerful network of leading international aerospace partners, proudly unveiled the first of the next generation of combat fighters, the Gripen Demonstrator aircraft. In an event attended by over 700 international guests which was broadcast ‘live’ around the world, the Gripen Demonstrator (Demo) aircraft was ‘rolled-out’ in a spectacular ceremony in front of the world’s media. The Gripen Demonstrator programme is the pathfinder for a whole new generation of technologies and capabilities to ensure that Gripen remains at the leading...

Low-Cost and Effective AEW Systems Find Buyers Feb 13, 2008 Bill Sweetman/Defense Technology International Airborne early warning and control (AEWC) has a reputation for being tricky and expensive. Boeing's 737 AEW aircraft for Australia, Turkey and South Korea -- one of the biggest U.S. export-only defense programs -- has run behind schedule and cost Boeing more than $1 billion in charges. The U.S. Air Force AWACS fleet -- described in 2006 as "falling apart" -- is finally budgeted for much-needed upgrades. Two systems now on the global market, however, are a step forward in affordability, and are making sales in...

Sweden's Saab says Swiss mulling Gripen fighters Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:25am EST STOCKHOLM, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Swedish aerospace firm Saab (SAABb.ST: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Friday that Switzerland was mulling buying its state-of-art Gripen fighter in a deal potentially worth billions of Swedish crowns. Saab said that Switzerland had requested it to tender for a contract to replace its fleet of F-5 fighters around the year 2013. Saab is one of four candidates. The Swedish firm will submit its offer in the middle of 2008 with a decision due in 2009. "There is massive interest in Gripen...

Saab to fly Future Gripen by late 2008 By Craig Hoyle Saab, meanwhile, expects to fly a two-seat demonstrator for an increased-size Future Gripen by late 2008, with risk-sharing partners including General Electric, Honeywell, Terma and Thales now onboard. The aircraft's outer mould line has not yet been frozen, but windtunnel tests have recently been conducted by Switzerland's Ruag. The design features a relocated and strengthened main undercarriage, two additional stores pylons and a 35-40% increase in internal fuel capacity. "We have been very pleased with what we have seen, and with the performance of the [GE] F414 engine," says...

Sweden sheds its nuclear fears, offers India fighter jets Indrani Bagchi [5 May, 2007 l 0245 hrs ISTlTIMES NEWS NETWORK] NEW DELHI: Sweden will pitch to sell the most advanced version of its multi-role fighter aircraft Saab Gripen, to India, even as this northern European nation, a known champion of non-proliferation, has clearly softened its stand towards India's nuclear deal. Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt, on a visit to India, told journalists on Friday, "India is emerging as a significant global player in areas such as Asian stability, climate change etc, and we need to deepen the dialogue." In his...

Today Norway and Saab, through Gripen International, have signed a Letter of Agreement regarding the future development of the Gripen fighter. The total value of this agreement is some 150 million Norwegian Kronor (approx. $25 million). This agreement strengthens Gripen´s chances of being selected as the future fighter aircraft for the Norwegian Air Force. The Norwegian Defence Minister Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen and the Swedish Defence Minister Mikael Odenberg, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on co-operation in development work on the future versions of Gripen. This agreement is an important step for Gripen as a candidate to be selected as Norway´s future...

Saab recycles fighters as the Draken’s era ends By Graham Warwick Saab is claiming to be the first aircraft manufacturer to take responsibility for its product from cradle to grave, after the Austrian air force’s last J35 Draken fighters were returned to the Swedish company to be “dismantled environmentally”. Austria, which ordered 24 J35OEs 18 years ago, was the last country to operate the distinctive Draken. The last eight have now been transported back to Sweden, travelling by truck from Zeltweg airbase through Germany to Ljungbyhed. At Ljungbyhed, Saab Aerotech will remove the avionics and reclaim the precious metals, after...

Sweden 'needs war to sell fighter planes' Sweden's military leadership wants to see JAS Gripen fighter planes sent into combat in Afghanistan and Africa, partly as a means of showcasing the planes for the export market. If the government accepts the military's forthcoming proposals, it will be the first time since a 1962 UN mission to Congo that Swedish Air Force planes are used in armed battle. Speaking to Sveriges Radio, Major General Jan Jonsson foresees JAS Gripen fighter aircraft being deployed in direct battle situations. "We can't rule out using air force back-up in difficult situations where our ground...

Peter Gilbert of Glendale, Wisconsin drove his 1989 Saab 900 SPG a little more than 1,001,385 miles, according to a Saab verification. Gilbert originally purchased the Saab new in November 1989 after the divorce of his wife. He says the car survived eight collisions with deer, one claiming the radiator of his car. Perhaps the success of Gilbert's ride can be attributed to his meticulous care regiment. For example, Gilbert only used premium synthetic oil in oil changes, and changed his tires every 45,000 miles. Not to mention, he strictly followed the maintenance schedule. Gilbert donated his prized possession to...

Sweden's Saab wins €110 million missile contract with Polish Navy The Associated Press Published: October 6, 2006 STOCKHOLM, Sweden Swedish aerospace company Saab AB said Friday it won a €110 million (US$139.7 million) contract with the Polish government to supply surface-to-surface missiles. The Polish Navy will use the RBS15 Mk3 missiles on its fleet of corvette-class ships, the company said in a statement. Poland is the second member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to order the RBS15 Mk3. Germany placed an in September 2005. "The Polish Navy is going through a major transformation in order to adapt to the...

Taurus Systems seeks enhanced cruise missile Less than a year after entering operational service with the German air force, Taurus Systems’ KEPD 350 cruise missile is being lined up for capability enhancements. Future develoments of the 1,400kg (3,100lb) weapon now under consideration include a reduced mass 350L version suitable for carriage by small fighter aircraft such as Lockheed Martin’s F-16, and a containerised variant intended for booster-assisted launch from ships, fixed land sites or trucks, says Taurus Systems business development executive Ulf Albinsson. The EADS LFK/Saab Bofors Dynamics joint venture has identified as near-term growth priorities the addition of a...

Gripen – The Nordic Solution At two separate press conferences – one in Oslo on 15 May and one in Copenhagen on 16 May, Gripen International presented details of its formal offers to Norway and Denmark for a new version of the Gripen fighter to replace these countries ageing F-16 aircraft. An enhanced standard of the Gripen new generation fighter, dubbed Gripen N for Norway and Gripen DK for Denmark respectively, with longer range and greater payload, have been offered in response to these countries’ respective requirements to deliver up to 48 aircraft from 2016. Industrial co-operation and development on...

DETROIT -- For the first time in nine years, all of the top picks in Consumer Reports' annual vehicle guide are made by Japanese automakers. The Honda Civic is the magazine's top small sedan, while the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is the top mid-sized sport utility vehicle, according to results released Wednesday. Vehicles from Nissan Motor Co. and Subaru, a division of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., round out the top picks in 10 categories. Asian brands also fared best in the magazine's survey of vehicle reliability. Toyota Motor Corp.'s Lexus brand was first, while Honda was second and the Toyota brand...

The company is bleeding billions, but management is beginning to see the light. There are a few bold steps -- including the scrapping of one of its brands -- GM execs should take to keep the auto giant running. According to some analysts on Wall Street, General Motors lost credibility last week when the company said that it would be restating 2001 earnings. That’s what it took for GM’s management to lose credibility? How about years of mismanaging its production effort? Or refusing to aggressively streamline its product offerings, recklessly pursuing incentive strategies, failing to address ballooning health-care and pension...

Title and link only. All GM vehicles except the Hummer H3 at GM employee discounts? Huge! Read about it, especially if you are in the market for a newer vehicle. http://www.freep.com/money/autonews/gm28e_20050528.htm

The head of Saab has resigned from the Swedish carmaker following last week’s decision by parent company General Motors to build its next generation cars in Germany. Peter Augustsson said on Wednesday that he would step down as chief executive and chairman after GM announced last week that the Opel plant in Russelsheim, Germany had won the battle to be the production base for the new Vectra and Saab 9-3 cars ahead of Saab’s Trollhattan plant in Sweden. The rest of this article is for FT.com subscribers only

Associated Press Report: Saab, BAE Accused of Exaggerations 03.07.2005, 11:00 AM Swedish aircraft manufacturer Saab and British-based BAE Systems exaggerated planned offset investments in order to sell their aircraft to South Africa, Swedish Radio said Monday. The public broadcaster said it analyzed the number of investments pledged by the companies, but found that most never came to fruition. South Africa bought 28 Swedish-built JAS Gripen - the first export order for the fighter - and 24 British Hawk trainer jets for its air force in 1999. The two manufacturers had promised offset investments up to 2001, mostly in civilian industry...

Friday’s decision to move the mainstay of the Swedish automobile brand, SAAB’s manufacturing to Germany reverberated around the country over the weekend. The Prime Minister, Göran Persson said he was relieved at the decision and indicated that he had earlier feared that General motors intended to shut down all manufacturing at the Swedish plant. News today however reveals that the SAAB design unit will be shifted entirely to Germany. The design team was told of the plans late Friday after the announcement by GM officials. Keeping the SAAB design team in Sweden has been claimed to be essential to keeping...

FRANKFURT, March 4 - General Motors' (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) German unit Adam Opel edged out Swedish brand Saab and won a crucial contract to build the next generation of GM mid-sized cars in Europe, the world's biggest automaker said on Friday. The fight to secure thousands of jobs in Europe's struggling auto sector had pitted the Opel plant in Ruesselsheim, Germany, against the Saab factory in Trollhattan, Sweden. Both wanted to make the successors to the Opel Vectra and the Saab 9-3 models starting in 2008. After months of review and amid pay concessions from workers at both plants,...

Sweden's Saab Plant to Build New Cadillac Model, Giving Workers Some Safety Amid Looming Cuts STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) -- General Motors Corp. said Tuesday that it plans to build a new mid-sized Cadillac at its plant in Trollhaettan, giving workers there some sense of safety amid looming job cuts. Carl Peter Forster, the president of GM Europe, made the announcement at the annual Geneva International Motor Show in Switzerland, one of the continent's most important automotive exhibitions. Saab said the new Cadillac BLS sedan and the Saab SportCombi mid-size wagon are to be built at the plant, along with the...

Saab, GM Angrily Deny Reports That U.S. Automaker Planning to Sell Swedish Brand, Factory STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) -- Saab Automobile AB, which is owned by General Motors Corp., angrily denied a newspaper report Thursday that said the carmaker was looking to sell the Saab brand, calling it one "of the coarsest speculations" it had heard. Swedish financial newspaper Dagens Industri reported, citing unidentified sources only, that Saab was being shopped around by its parent GM to possible buyers in China and France's Renault SA. Saab's chief executive, Peter Augustsson, and a board member of GM Europe, denied the report. "These...

Thousands of workers at Saab's last Swedish automobile manufacturing plant will stop working for two hours Tuesday, protesting a planned wave of job cuts by General Motors that will see 12,000 jobs in Europe eliminated by 2006. Union leader Chresten Nielsen said the action wasn't a strike per se, calling it instead an informational meeting during work hours. "There is a development agreement, and according to this the labor organizations have the right to give information during working hours," he said. "We have never used this possibility in a way that has stopped production. This will be the first time."...