SAAB, Adani Group Announce Collaboration for Defence Manufacturing

Swedish defence company-SAAB and India՚s Adani Group have agreed to collaborate in defence manufacturing. Partnership for design, development, and production of single engine Gripen fighter jets under Make in India.

Collaboration for Defence Manufacturing
  • Compete with collaboration of US aircraft major Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) planning to manufacture F-16 fighter aircrafts in India.

About Adani Group

  • Adani Group has interests mainly in energy, real estate, logistics, and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs)
  • So far has no experience in defense manufacturing.

About SAAB

SAAB is manufacturer of Gripen, a single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft with state-of-the-art technology, including advanced data links and sensors.

Modernizing Indian Air Force

  • IAF procuring more than 100 single engine fighter jets to replace old Russian Mig-21s and Mig-27s
  • Procurement to be under Strategic Partnership (SP) model of Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) with deal estimated to be over ₹ 60,000 crore.
  • First 18 aircraft will be bought ready to flyaway and rest will be manufactured in India by Indian private company with technology transfer from foreign manufacturer.
  • F-16 and Gripen meet IAF՚s requirement.

Need for New Aircrafts

  • IAF needs strength of 42 fighter squadrons to dominate and tackle two-front collusive threat simultaneously from China and Pakistan.
  • Currently, IAF has only 32 fighter squadrons with numbers expected to go down by 2021.

Examrace Team at Aug 22, 2021