Sweden backs out of historic warplane order

The defence department of the Swedish Saab Group took a last-minute decision on Monday not to supply the Danish military with Gripen Next Generation fighter jets, when Denmark next year must choose a new model after the current F16s have served their time.

Politiken reports that Saab and the Swedish government did not submit a final offer to the Danish Defence Ministry before the deadline at noon, because Sweden expected that its US rival Lockheed Martin, the world's biggest weapons manufacturer, would get the 40 year contract regardless.

Historic investment
The purchase of the new fighter jets is expected to come in at 30 billion kroner and will be one of Denmark's biggest public investments in history. 

With Sweden out of the competition, the remaining options are Lockheed Martin's F35 planes, Boeing's Super Hornets and Eurofighter Typhoons from German manufacturer Cassidan.




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