Saab showcases Gripen E aircraft which will be on display during Aero India 2025

Saab showcases Gripen E replica ahead of Aero India 2025, contender for India's 114 MRFA deal with technology transfer.

Ahead of Aero India 2025, Swedish defence and aerospace company Saab on Tuesday (December 10) showcased the full-scale replica of the Gripen E aircraft, which will be on public display at the airshow to be held between February 10 and 14.

Kent Ake Molin, head of Gripen for India Programme, said that the company is yet to decide on whether the aircraft would take part in the flying display during the airshow.

“We are working on the plans for Aero India with the organisers,” Mr. Molin said.

The Gripen E is one of the contenders for the 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) which India wants to procure.

The Indian Air Force issued a Request For Information (RFI) for 114 MRFA in April 2019 to global aircraft manufacturers, which requires the aircraft to be license-manufactured in India with significant technology transfer.

“If you look at the advantages we have, it (Gripen E) is one of the most advanced and most cost-efficient platforms. We will also be delivering the world’s largest transfer of technology programme in the history of aerospace, and we will be able to deliver fast and ramp up to meet the requirement the IAF’s needs when it comes to fighter aircraft,” Mr. Molin told The Hindu.

When asked whether reports released by Swedish institutes like V-Dem Institute on India would have an impact on the company’s chances in the MRFA deal, Mr. Molin said, “I cannot comment on that specifically, but I know we have the full support from the Swedish government. This is not just selling; we are establishing industrial capabilities. We have the full support of the Swedish government to work with Indian industries to do the transfer of technologies required and capabilities to set up manufacturing, MRO and design capabilities here, so I do not see or hear any issues in that perception.”