Saab lowers the price of its Gripen to snatch the market in the Netherlands

(B2) Determined to win the public market for the renewal of Dutch F-16 fighter planes, against its American competitor F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), the Swedish aircraft manufacturer Saab is slaughtering the prices... It would thus have proposed to the Netherlands "85 Gripen fighters for 4,8 billion euros", during a visit by parliamentarians from the Defense Committee. That is almost a billion less than the amount reserved by the Ministry of Defense (5,7 billion euros) to replace the F-16s, according to our
colleagues NRC Handelsblad.

Better. The Swedes add a guarantee to their offer: a fixed price for the operation and maintenance of the unit over the next thirty years, of around 10 billion euros (while for the F-35 we go up to 14,4, 35 billion euros and still it is an estimate). So, too good to be true? The Dutch Ministry of Defense does not hesitate to say so, behind the scenes, stressing that "everything is not understood" and that the "true amount is much higher". The JSF returning for him cheaper than the Gripen (especially since the Dutch have in fact especially already invested nearly a billion in the F-XNUMX project). He cites the Norwegian example in particular. Last November, Norway, which was in the same dilemma, finally opted for the JSF, having found that the prices of the Gripen were two to three times higher than its manufacturer Saab suggested.

In these times of crisis, the Swedish offer is however attractive, especially since Saab is ready to register its guarantee black on white, as having legal value. Saab has also made a similar offer of 2,9 billion euros to Denmark for the purchase AND maintenance of 24 aircraft. So... before the 2nd Chamber decides, in April, on the purchase of the first two F-35 test aircraft, the members of the Defense Commission would like to have a precise assessment of the comparative advantages, and the true cost , each other. A new episode in the battle which opposes the Swedish aircraft manufacturer to its American competitor.

(NGV)

Photo: ©Gripen International/ Katsuhiko TOKUNAGA