Saab links up with Adani to bid to build fighter jets in India

NEW DELHI: Swedish defence firm Saab and Adani Group have announced a collaboration plan entailing billions of dollars for the development and manufacture of Gripen fighter jets and other hightech products in India. Saab AB CEO Håkan Buskhe said in New Delhi on Friday that plans were afoot to create a defence ecosystem in India, which will involve partners, vendors and suppliers. “The collaboration is meant for Gripen fighter jets. We also have other projects such as niche sensors for instance ground penetrating radar and other R&D,” he said.

The collaboration comes at a time when the IAF is about to initiate the selection of a single engine fighter aircraft to replace Russian MIG-21s and MIG-27s. Whether the IAF procures Gripen will depend on whether Saab and Adani qualify and win the contract. When asked about this, Buskhe said, “we have a strong belief that we can qualify for the needs of the IAF. We recognise some work needs to be done, but we would not have taken the step if we didn’t believe we would be successful.” US defence firm Lockheed Martin will be a major competitor for Saab.

Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani said that a roadmap of selfreliance and indigenisation has been created in collaboration with Saab. The first focus will be on technology of critically important equipment such as fighters, unmanned aerial systems, carbon composites and radar technology.

Besides ensuring transfer of technology, there will also be “focus on capabilities critical for true indigenisation, including design, system integration, maintenance and upgrade for Gripen in India,” said Adani. He added that Gripen will be offered to India as the best single engine fighter aircraft under the strategic partnership model.

Saab is willing to bring its technology in India and foresee exporting the Gripen to other countries. “What we offer is total source codes. One of our unique things is that the Gripen is designed to meet the requirements of the next 50 to 60 years,” a top Saab official said.

Buskhe said “we will not extend our capacity in Sweden, so India will be a partner in the global chain. We will definitely export from India to other countries if the Indian government thinks it is a good idea. There is billions of US dollars of investment in such capability. This is not a question of production, but to create the capability from design to control of supply chain and developing the next aircraft in India. We are talking of full capability.”

Buskhe added that the basic design of a naval version of the Gripen has also been made in Sweden. In relation, the Indian Navy wants to procure 57 multirole carrier borne fighters.