May 29, 2021 - Defence and Security Company Saab recognizes and respects the decision of the Croatian government in the fighter aircraft procurement process.

However, Saab is convinced that the offer made by the Swedish government for the 12 new Gripen C/D aircraft, which includes delivery within 2 years, a full logistic support package and training for Croatian Air Force pilots and technicians, as well as a tailor-made strategic cooperation package to be delivered by Saab, would meet and even exceed all the needs of the Croatian Air Force.

"We believe that our proposal is very comprehensive and highly beneficial in many aspects for Croatia and the Croatian Air Force. Gripen is the first of the new generation fighters in operational service, it is a fully NATO interoperable fighter, includes the latest technology and our offer was for new aircraft together with rapid deliveries. We have a strong customer base and a roadmap to keep Gripen technologically and operationally relevant into the 2060s. 

Procuring and operating new Gripen does not raise any additional costs often associated with used aircraft, and we can confirm that the Gripen offer transparently provided a total inclusion of all costs. The proposal also included a very attractive financial scheme for Croatia, which would enable re-payment over a long period of time, in combination with an initial “grace” period between 2023 and 2025. 

Such financing solutions would be delivered through the Swedish government and not through commercial banks, thus leading to exceptionally favourable financial terms. 

Partnering with Sweden and Saab would also have brought much more benefits for Croatia. Such an example is a Regional Aeronautical & Support Centre which would develop long-term cooperation with the local defence industry as well as the academic sector, generating some 500 high-tech, local jobs. We will continue to monitor and follow the process” stated Jonas Hjelm, Senior Vice-President and Head of Business Area Aeronautics.

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The recent fighter jet story was a bit of a flop (yes, that's an understatement) for Croatia, but it seems that not all is lost, despite the entire situation having been made the butt of numerous jokes ever since.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 18th of May, 2019, a delegation from Sweden was led by an individual from FMV, a state-run company that deals with arms export operations.

Throughout 2019, the Croatian Government will try its hand at yet another attempt to procure some fighter jets. It appears, despite the total and utter failure to reach a deal with Israel and Croatia's previously desired acquisition of some F16's, that the government just isn't giving up on its plans.

As Vecernji list reports, after the Croatian Military Delegation returned from the United States over a month ago from the initial round of talks about the aircraft, the same type of initial meeting was held on the 8th of May, but with the Swedes, in which Croatia's "interest" was activated once again, this time for the purchase of the JAS-39 Gripen.

The delegation to the United States was headed by General Mirko Šundov, while Robert Hranj was placed in charge of the talks on the specific topic of the aircraft. All that was found out after that was that from the American side, no offers on the aircraft had been made.

As for the Swedes, they showed somewhat greater ambition. As Croatia's delegation had returned from the United States visibly disappointed, and they'd even heard that the Americans were astonished when they realised that Croatia still had a firm intention to acquire those jets, MORH set up a similar meeting, but this time with the Swedes.

As stated, the delegation from Sweden was led by an individual from FMV, which is a state-run company that runs and deals with arms export operations. In addition, there was also a representative of SAAB, the manufacturer of the JAS-39 Gripen aircraft. The Croatian delegation consisting of ten persons was headed by Hranj.

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The defence and security company will set up an innovation programme which will include a software centre, a science park and a university research programme.