Saab Expects a Boost in Gripen E/F and GlobalEye Sales
Despite the growing health crisis across the globe, Saab has seen two of its most important programmes progress immensely during the last couple of months. Both Swedish Gripen E deliveries and the Brazilian Gripen joint programme have been developing in full swing and continue to progress.
The first Brazilian Gripen E made its maiden flight on September 24th of this year, marking one of the most important milestones in the Brazilian Gripen programme headed by Saab and its Brazilian partners.
“The programme is a real success. It brings something substantial to the country,” says Micael Johansson, CEO and Senior Executive Vice President of Saab. “We have done extremely well when it comes to partnerships in Brazil,” he adds, referring to the largest transfer of technology that Saab has done so far.
According to Johansson, Saab is looking at four more Gripen deliveries to Brazil in 2021. He also adds that more purchases are expected over the following years. Alongside Gripen, GlobalEye has a growing potential for multiple sales as well, especially in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe. Furthermore, the successful collaboration with Brazil and the country’s leading development work on Gripen F could also open up more doors for Saab in Latin America, including Colombia for which Johansson says “I think that a Gripen E contract with Colombia is possible with the help and support of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) and the Brazilian industry.”
Saab’s Vision Beyond 2020
Johansson, who has over 35 years of experience in Saab is confident about the direction the company is headed, with plans to continue investing in R&D and innovation.
“Our focus is to be more multi-domestic, in terms of where we have our operations: that is a good way of growing the company. We are looking to further develop capabilities in countries like Australia, Finland, Germany, the UAE, the UK and the USA,” he says. “I am happy to have an organisation with quite a lot of people in different countries during this pandemic – otherwise it would have been extremely difficult,” Johansson adds.
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