Swiss Choose Cost-Effective Gripen Over Rafale and Eurofighter | Aviation International News

Swiss Choose Cost-Effective Gripen Over Rafale and Eurofighter

Switzerland has chosen the Saab Gripen as its new fighter aircraft, in preference to the Dassault Rafale or Eurofighter Typhoon.

Saab has won the Swiss fighter contest, which should allow full development of the Gripen NG upgrade to proceed. (Photo: Saab)

By Chris Pocock • Defense Correspondent

December 1, 2011

Switzerland has chosen the Saab Gripen as its new fighter aircraft, in preference to the Dassault Rafale or Eurofighter Typhoon. Defense Minister Ueli Maurier told journalists that the Swedish package including 22 jets is worth $3.4 billion. The Gripen is not the highest performing of the three contenders, he said, but it meets the Swiss requirement and offers the lowest acquisition and maintenance costs. Swiss media earlier reported that the Eurofighter offer was about $4.3 billion, and the Rafale in the middle range between the Typhoon and the Gripen.

The Swiss Parliament voted extra funds for defense last September, and told the government to conclude the fighter evaluation that it had suspended a year earlier. But Maurier said the extra funds must also pay for other defense improvements in Switzerland.

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