Norway Requests Sweden to Bid for F-16 Fleet Replacement

Gripen International, The Royal Norwegian MoD has requested FMV, Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration, to submit binding proposals for the replacement of its ageing fleet of F-16’s with the Gripen fighter. 
 
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Defence has announced that its F-16 fleet is foreseen to reach the end of its technical and operational lifespan around 2015, and that it has a need to acquire a future combat aircraft capability to replace its F-16 fleet. 
 
In order to meet the Norwegian Parliament’s target of approving the future combat aircraft acquisition process by Spring 2009, the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Defence has issued a Request for Binding Information (RBI) to FMV, as well as two other suppliers. 
 
The invitation from the Norwegian authorities to FMV to bid, follows the recent receipt of similar invitations from India, Switzerland, Denmark and Thailand, and is further evidence of the big interest Gripen is generating worldwide. FMV’s response to the Norwegian MoD RBI is required to be submitted on 28 April 2008. 
 
Hans Rosén, Gripen International’s Sales and Marketing Director for Norway, is confident that FMV will present a very attractive offer to Norway. 
 
“We are delighted that Sweden, through FMV, has been invited to propose what we confidently believe will be the complete solution to meet Norway’s future combat aircraft requirements. Gripen is the most cost effective, true multi-role fighter aircraft available on the market. It is the ideal new generation fighter to meet Norway’s needs for the defence of its national territory, including surveillance of the high North, and participation in international, multi-national forces. 
 
Hans Rosén also emphasized the Gripen team’s unrivalled record in the defence industry in developing and delivering successful win–win industrial co-operation. 
 
“For the Gripen team, good offset means partnerships – lasting business-driven relationships that generate long-term mutual benefits. We are confident that we will propose an outstanding industrial participation package, based on the strong business relations already forged between Norwegian and Swedish industry as a result of the historic Letter of Agreement signed by the Norwegian Department of Defence and Gripen International in April 2007”. 
He continued “I am confident that FMV will submit the most competitively priced package which will meet, or exceed, Norway’s requirements”. 
 
Gripen is already in-service with the air forces in Sweden, Czech Republic and Hungary and deliveries to the South African air force will begin this year. Gripen is also operated by the UK’s Empire Test Pilot School (ETPS) for training test pilots worldwide. 
 
The procurement process between the Thai and Swedish governments, following Thailand’s selection of Gripen to replace the Royal Thai Air Force F-5 aircraft, is also nearing conclusion.