Future missile system for Gripen

Future missile system for Gripen

Defence and security company Saab has received an order from FMV (the
Swedish Defence Materiel Administration) regarding the integration of
the active radar-guided Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile, Meteor. The
order is worth MSEK 312 spread over four years.

The integration means that Meteor will be adapted to other Gripen
systems, such as the radar and displays. The order includes test flights
and test firing, as well as the integration of Meteor with support and
maintenance systems such as simulators and planning computers. The
Swedish Gripen C/D aircraft will also have a two-way datalink for
communication between the aircraft and the missile once it has been
fired.

 

"Meteor has substantially better performance than any other BVR missile
existing today, which will obviously increase Gripen's ability to defend
against other aircraft," says Lennart Sindahl, Head of business area
Aeronautics within Saab. "The fact that Gripen is also being used
internationally as an airborne platform in the development of Meteor
shows that we have a technical level in Sweden that few other countries
can match."

 

Gripen has been used since 2006 as the test aircraft for the development
of Meteor. Multiple missiles have been fired from Gripen to date. This
experience can now be utilised for a more cost-effective integration of
Meteor with the Swedish Armed Forces' Gripen C/D.

 

The order mainly concerns Saab's operations in Linköping and to some
extent Gothenburg.

 

 

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
adapts and improves new technology to meet customers' changing needs.

 

Meteor has been designed to defeat current and future threats at beyond
visual range, with an understanding performance that will totally
redefine an aircraft's air combat capability. Meteor has the largest No
Escape Zone of any air-to-air weapon, resulting in a long stand-off
range and high kill probability that ensures air superiority and pilot
survivability. The programme is on schedule to deliver the first
production deliveries in 2012 and is the result of a successful
six-nation European collaboration, in which Saab Dynamics of Sweden is a
partner of the prime contractor, MBDA.

 

The Gripen is the first of the new generation fighter aircraft to enter
service and the first to be used for firing Meteor, the high-tech beyond
visual range missiles of the future. Using the latest available
technology it is capable of performing an extensive range of air-to-air
and air-to-surface operational missions and employing the latest
weapons. Gripen, designed to meet the demands of current and future
threats, is in service with the Swedish, Czech Republic, Hungarian and
South African Air Forces and has also been ordered by the Royal Thai Air
Force. The UK Empire Test Pilots´ School (ETPS) is also operating Gripen
as its advanced fast jet platform for test pilots world wide.

For further information, please contact:

Saab's press centre, +46 (0)734 180 018

www.saabgroup.com (http://www.saabgroup.com)

Images of Gripen and Meteor can be found in the Saab Image Base at
www.saabgroup.com (http://www.saabgroup.com).

The information is that which Saab AB is required to declare by the
Securities Business Act and/or the Financial instruments Trading Act.
The information was submitted for publication on 8 September at 10.15.