Saab and Pilatus Sign MoU on Gripen and PC-21 Aircraft

Released on Friday, March 28, 2014

 

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with SAAB

cementing a far-reaching partnership which on the one hand addresses the

offset obligations of SAAB related to the possible purchase of the Gripen for

the Swiss Air Force, while at the same time forging a long term relationship

between two innovative and forward looking aerospace companies.

A new generation of aircraft for a new generation of military pilots: Gripens for

Switzerland – PC-21s for Sweden. The PC-21 Pilot Training System has been the

subject of sales negotiations between Pilatus and Sweden for some time. A

decision to proceed with the purchase of the Gripen would take Pilatus one step

closer to concluding a PC-21 contract, creating a win-win situation for both

countries.

An order to produce and deliver some twenty PC-21s would be an important

achievement for one of Central Switzerland’s biggest employers, with a

workforce of over 1600 at its headquarters in Stans, and would also provide a

boost for related business entities across Switzerland as a whole.

New jobs

Pilatus and SAAB also aim to create some 100 further new positions in the

aerostructures sector. The production – for the PC-21, the Gripen and other

aircraft types made by both manufacturers – will be performed at a new location

in Switzerland which has yet to be defined.

Plans have also been agreed to set up an “Aerospace Software Development

Center” in Switzerland. The two aircraft manufacturers will focus on developing

innovative and safety-related software for their aircraft and associated groundbased

systems. The goal will be to bundle know-how and exploit synergies to

benefit the product ranges of both companies.

All these measures are forecast to generate orders worth some half a billion

Swiss francs over the next five to eight years. Around half of that total would go

to Pilatus’ Swiss supplier base.

Markus Bucher, CEO of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd, explains:

“This is a long-term partnership that makes sense, and would benefit both

Sweden and Switzerland. The Gripen is the optimum aircraft for the Swiss Air

Force and the PC-21 provides the best solution for the provision of training to

military pilots, in Sweden and elsewhere. The Gripen offset deal has been

vigorously negotiated in detail by armasuisse. It will allow Pilatus and around

600 Swiss suppliers to safeguard valuable development and industrial jobs on a

long-term basis.”

 

Source: SAAB AND PILATUS SIGN MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU)