With Gripen, Saab Offers India Self-Reliance
In the race to make fighter jets in India, Saab offers cutting edge technology and large-scale knowledge transfer that will boost the defence manufacturing sector of the country. According to the proposal, the manufacturing of 96 out of the 114 Gripen fighters will be overseen by INAC (Indian Aircraft Company), which is the proposed Industrial hub that Saab intends to set up in India.
“Our focus is on providing indigenous content and capabilities to be able to achieve self-reliance (for India) for the needs of tomorrow,” says Mats Palmberg, Head of the Gripen India campaign. Through INAC, India will become a part of Saab’s global industrial system for Gripen while working with operations in Sweden and Brazil.
“We want to have several partners for the ‘Make in India’ program and are looking forward to working with individuals to establish our eco-system. We are in touch with international partners to satisfy the Indian needs for indigenous content. If we are successful, the same capabilities that we use in Sweden can be used in India,” Mats says.
When asked how the offer is different from the one made by Saab in 2008, Mats said that there have been several technological leaps since 2008. “The big difference is the depth of technology and capability that we are prepared to transfer and set up in India,” he said.
Among other things, Saab is also open to integrate Indian-made missiles, which further supports the tailor-made solution narrative that Saab has always maintained.
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