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Linkoping (Sweden), Feb 18 (IANS) Swedish aviation major Saab is "confident" of its Gripen fighter winning an Indian Air Force (IAF) order for 126 multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA), claiming its product has an "overwhelming" advantage over the competition.
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However, allegations that bribes were paid to facilitate the sale of the fighter to the Czech Republic and South Africa could cloud Saab's chances.
"The advantages the Gripen offers over its competitors are simply overwhelming," said Owe Wagermark, communications director of Saab and its subsidiary Gripen International that manufactures the jet.
"The Gripen new generation fighter is the complete solution to the IAF's needs. It will meet or exceed every operational requirement of the IAF in all roles. It is an air-to-air fighter with BVR (beyond visual range) and WVR (within visual range) capabilities, as also air-to-surface missile launching and reconnaissance capabilities," Wagermark told IANS at the company's headquarters here.
Noting that Saab was "looking forward" to the IAF tender, he said: "We are confident that India will opt for the Gripen."
The IAF had in 2001 projected a requirement for 126 MRCAs to replace its ageing fleet of Soviet-era Mig-21 and MiG-23 fighters.
Seven aircraft are in the running for the order. They are the US F-16 and F-18, the MiG-35 (an updated version of the MiG-29 the IAF operates and which was previously in the running), the French Mirage 2000-V and Rafale, the Gripen, and the four-nation European Typhoon.
Except for the Mirage, Rafale and the Typhoon, the other contenders were showcased at the Aero India 2007 show at Bangalore Feb 7-11 and repeatedly took to the skies to demonstrate their capabilities. Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony said in Bangalore Feb 7 the IAF tender would be floated "at the earliest".
Asked about the possible advantage the Gripen held over an aircraft like the F-16, Wagermark said: "I cannot imagine the IAF, which intends to obtain the highest quality aircraft available in the market, opting for the rather obsolete F-16 over the state-of-the-art Gripen."
US aerospace major Lockheed Martin, however, contests this, saying the F-16 has been constantly upgraded, that it is "the most successful fighter jet in history" and that some 4,000 are flying with air forces worldwide.
"Moreover," said Wagermark, "Saab has pledged India absolute access to all our technology as well as its transfer to India and licence to manufacture the aircraft locally in due course.
"It is highly improbable that such concessions could be obtained from the US," he added.
Wagermark was not exactly accurate in stating this, as F-18 manufacturer Boeing has already offered joint production in India if it wins the IAF order.
There is, however, a dark cloud looming over Saab's prospects in view of the bribery scandals and the investigations into them - but the company says it was not directly involved.
Swedish TV4's investigative team is scheduled to disclose Feb 20 in its "Uppdrag Granskning" (Mission Enquiry) programme what it terms highly explosive new facts about the bribes allegedly paid out for securing the Czech and South African orders.
Said programme producer Sven Bergman: "I cannot disclose any contents of our programme in advance. But let me assure you that it has nothing to do with any, past or future, India-Saab business. It concerns the marketing methods used by (Britain's) BAE Systems to secure the Czech order and influence the South African one.
"We will largely bring out the results of the enquiry carried out by the British Economic Investigative Department's Serious Fraud Service," Bergman added.
BAE Systems markets the products of Saab and its subsidiary, Saab Bofors Dynamics. In 1999, Saab purchased the Celsius Group, the parent group of Bofors. In September 2000, United Defense Industries (UDI) purchased Bofors Weapon Systems from Saab, which retained the company's missile wing. Bofors was accused of corruption in the Indian Army purchase in the mid-1980s of 155 mm howitzers but the Indian Supreme Court threw out the charge.
"The (Czech and South African) sales campaigns were carried out by BAE Systems. Gripen International is a completely independent unit and has no ties whatsoever with BAE," Adrian Stockwell, communications director for India of Gripen International, told IANS.
He spoke from Goa, where he was unwinding after a "highly satisfying" performance at the Aero India show.
"Gripen International India is, in turn, an autonomous unit. We are extremely careful that nothing, repeat nothing, unethical will be resorted to for winning the Indian bid," Stockwell maintained.
Joanna Sjölander, director of marketing communications for Gripen International, spoke in similar vein, also from Goa.
"We have determined that transparency will be total in all our dealings throughout. There is nothing to worry about," he contended.
"The fact that the IAF boys are thrilled with the Gripen fills us with great joy, hope and realistic optimism. That is what we are celebrating in Goa and have almost decided to make it our base, here. After all we are going to be in India for a long time," Sjölander maintained.
--By Alfred de Tavares
http://www.teluguportal.net/modules/news/article.php?storyid=32466
! Advertisement !
However, allegations that bribes were paid to facilitate the sale of the fighter to the Czech Republic and South Africa could cloud Saab's chances.
"The advantages the Gripen offers over its competitors are simply overwhelming," said Owe Wagermark, communications director of Saab and its subsidiary Gripen International that manufactures the jet.
"The Gripen new generation fighter is the complete solution to the IAF's needs. It will meet or exceed every operational requirement of the IAF in all roles. It is an air-to-air fighter with BVR (beyond visual range) and WVR (within visual range) capabilities, as also air-to-surface missile launching and reconnaissance capabilities," Wagermark told IANS at the company's headquarters here.
Noting that Saab was "looking forward" to the IAF tender, he said: "We are confident that India will opt for the Gripen."
The IAF had in 2001 projected a requirement for 126 MRCAs to replace its ageing fleet of Soviet-era Mig-21 and MiG-23 fighters.
Seven aircraft are in the running for the order. They are the US F-16 and F-18, the MiG-35 (an updated version of the MiG-29 the IAF operates and which was previously in the running), the French Mirage 2000-V and Rafale, the Gripen, and the four-nation European Typhoon.
Except for the Mirage, Rafale and the Typhoon, the other contenders were showcased at the Aero India 2007 show at Bangalore Feb 7-11 and repeatedly took to the skies to demonstrate their capabilities. Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony said in Bangalore Feb 7 the IAF tender would be floated "at the earliest".
Asked about the possible advantage the Gripen held over an aircraft like the F-16, Wagermark said: "I cannot imagine the IAF, which intends to obtain the highest quality aircraft available in the market, opting for the rather obsolete F-16 over the state-of-the-art Gripen."
US aerospace major Lockheed Martin, however, contests this, saying the F-16 has been constantly upgraded, that it is "the most successful fighter jet in history" and that some 4,000 are flying with air forces worldwide.
"Moreover," said Wagermark, "Saab has pledged India absolute access to all our technology as well as its transfer to India and licence to manufacture the aircraft locally in due course.
"It is highly improbable that such concessions could be obtained from the US," he added.
Wagermark was not exactly accurate in stating this, as F-18 manufacturer Boeing has already offered joint production in India if it wins the IAF order.
There is, however, a dark cloud looming over Saab's prospects in view of the bribery scandals and the investigations into them - but the company says it was not directly involved.
Swedish TV4's investigative team is scheduled to disclose Feb 20 in its "Uppdrag Granskning" (Mission Enquiry) programme what it terms highly explosive new facts about the bribes allegedly paid out for securing the Czech and South African orders.
Said programme producer Sven Bergman: "I cannot disclose any contents of our programme in advance. But let me assure you that it has nothing to do with any, past or future, India-Saab business. It concerns the marketing methods used by (Britain's) BAE Systems to secure the Czech order and influence the South African one.
"We will largely bring out the results of the enquiry carried out by the British Economic Investigative Department's Serious Fraud Service," Bergman added.
BAE Systems markets the products of Saab and its subsidiary, Saab Bofors Dynamics. In 1999, Saab purchased the Celsius Group, the parent group of Bofors. In September 2000, United Defense Industries (UDI) purchased Bofors Weapon Systems from Saab, which retained the company's missile wing. Bofors was accused of corruption in the Indian Army purchase in the mid-1980s of 155 mm howitzers but the Indian Supreme Court threw out the charge.
"The (Czech and South African) sales campaigns were carried out by BAE Systems. Gripen International is a completely independent unit and has no ties whatsoever with BAE," Adrian Stockwell, communications director for India of Gripen International, told IANS.
He spoke from Goa, where he was unwinding after a "highly satisfying" performance at the Aero India show.
"Gripen International India is, in turn, an autonomous unit. We are extremely careful that nothing, repeat nothing, unethical will be resorted to for winning the Indian bid," Stockwell maintained.
Joanna Sjölander, director of marketing communications for Gripen International, spoke in similar vein, also from Goa.
"We have determined that transparency will be total in all our dealings throughout. There is nothing to worry about," he contended.
"The fact that the IAF boys are thrilled with the Gripen fills us with great joy, hope and realistic optimism. That is what we are celebrating in Goa and have almost decided to make it our base, here. After all we are going to be in India for a long time," Sjölander maintained.
--By Alfred de Tavares
http://www.teluguportal.net/modules/news/article.php?storyid=32466
