Just days after Defense Secretary Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP) committed to modifying her unloved Eurofighter, Saab put a new package price for Gripen fighter jets on the table. The Swedes want to become the dominant power in the skies over Austria again.
In the duel with the Eurofighter, Saab is not defeated: for the first time on Wednesday, the Swedes mentioned the “Krone” all-inclusive prices for a package consisting of twelve Gripen C (single seater) and two Gripen D (two seater), including the first Spare parts and own simulators. Saab comes back into the game as the next jet fighter for Austria. And that only a few days after Secretary Tanner publicly clung to the Eurofighter.
A third cheaper than the Eurofighter?
With purchase costs of 900 million euros and costs of 23,000 euros per flight hour, the jet would still be about a third cheaper than the Eurofighter in 15 years. In comparison, our 15 Eurofighters, which we have been flying since 2007, have already been paid off, so there are no more purchase costs.
However, the costs per flight hour are around 60,000 euros, depending on the calculation method. The reasons for this include two engines instead of one on the Gripen and a generally more complex way of operating the Eurofighter. The Austrian fighter pilots should spend about 2000 hours in the air each year, currently they get about 1500 hours in good years.
Defense budgets are increasing
The timing for the competitive offer is well chosen: Defense budgets are currently rising across Europe. In Austria, Minister Tanner wants to increase the budget from 0.6 percent of GDP to one percent initially and even to 1.5 percent in 2027. raised, give a special pot of ten billion for acute expenditure. Air traffic control, which has been used a lot lately and rests only on a few Eurofighters after the Saab 105 was retired a year ago, should be one of the first areas of investment.
A fleet or two?
The big question to be answered is: how many planes should Austria use at the same time? Is a supersonic, efficient jet fighter stationed in Zeltweg sufficient and is pilot training outsourced abroad? Or do you need a second type for the training of one or two pilots a year, a smaller, slower jet trainer, which – to a very limited extent – could also take over surveillance activities? Within the military there is currently a trend towards a two-fleet solution, as General Brieger recently confirmed in the “Krone” interview. However, the new offering from Sweden could shuffle the cards again.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
