Saab has awarded its Indian joint venture Aeronautical Design and Development Centre (ADDC) its first contract to participate in the aerostructural design and development for the Gripen Next Generation (NG) fighter aircraft.
The ADCC is a JV between Saab and TATA Consultancy Services (TCS) established last September.
A Gripen International news release explains the ADDC is a “long term relationship” between Saab and TCS with “Saab undertaking to transfer technology and competencies in the aerospace sector”.
The deal will enable the ADDC “to play a pivotal role in development activities in different Saab products”. The ADCC has an engineering, services and solutions focus and will address market opportunities in areas such as structures, systems, avionics and after market support both the the Indian as well as global aerospace and defence markets.
The South African Air Force is the first user of the second generation Gripen D advanced light fighter aircraft. Five have been delivered to date with four more to come. Also on order are 17 Gripen C fighters. Sweden, Hungary and the Czech Republic operate fleets of first generation Gripen A and B aircraft. Thailand has also ordered the aircraft.
The Gripen is rated a “Generation 4.5″ platform, with only the US Lockheed Martin F35 Raptor qualifying as “Generation 5”.
