Now it has been communicated 2020 the jet will be ready (so in fact probably 2022 or so) and they won't produce a double seater version, just the E model. So Switzerland will probably rent Gripen D double seaters.
When criticized the Defence ministry said: "That took us by surprise. But that's ok, that's an advantage in combat to have more single seaters."
And it's also not sure if Sweden will finally buy so many Gripens. Voices in the air force seems to be a bit sceptic about the value they get for the money.
Strange story...
That Sweden can build modern fighters is a rellic from the Cold War when Sweden relly was neutral and had to be able to produce hardware for it self.
Today this is almost gone, Sweden has more or less gotten ridd of its military becouse it has no enemy any more.
The Swedish army is pretty much none existen today, only on paper. The navy has been cut in half with a hanfull of the latest stealth corvettes and submarines left.
And this is also why there are some sceptics about the new Gripen orders. Many high defence officials meen that the money for 40-60 new Gripens has to be taken from other projects in the army and navy, and then the rest of the military branches will just disapear.
The swedish military commander has asked for 3-4 billion SEK extra per year to mantain the defences present abilitys after 2014 if the Gripen orders will go thru. So far the gouvernment doesnt seem to be willing to pay up. About 300 millions SEK a year has so far been promised.
The question is now if this will be enough.
If Switzerland doesnt buy the Gripen E Sweden most likley wont ethier.
