. Energy News .




.
AEROSPACE
Swiss fighter jet purchase details agreed despite criticism
by Staff Writers
Geneva (AFP) Aug 25, 2012


Switzerland has agreed details of its planned purchase of 22 fighter jets from Sweden, despite a critical parliamentary report on the deal, the defence ministries of the two countries said Saturday.

A Swiss government statement said an agreement in principle had been concluded between its weapons procurement agency armasuisse and Sweden's FXM agency on the acquisition of the Saab Gripen warplanes.

Final details of specifications, delivery dates, prices, equipment and infrastructure had been settled pending a final green light from Bern, it said.

The deal forms part of a larger order for Gripens to be shared with Sweden, which Stockholm said Saturday would help to keep costs down.

The Swiss parliamentary security commission said on Tuesday that the "choice of jet made by the Federal Council carries the most risks: technically, commercially, financially and in respect of the delivery date", Swiss news agency ATS reported.

The members of the commission nonetheless voted 16 to 9 against demanding that ministers put a halt to the deal.

Defence Minister Ueli Maurer said that the Gripen "was the cheapest" option compared with the French Dassault Rafale and the EADS Eurofighter and its purchase price -- 3.126 billion francs (2.6 million euros, $3.25 billion) -- was guaranteed not to change.

Opponents of the Gripen purchase, which still has to be approved by the federal parliament, have said that they would seek to hold a national referendum on the deal.

The Gripens, to replace the Swiss air force's ageing US-built F-5 Tigers, are of a more advanced model still under development and will not be available before 2018, according to Bern.

For its part the Swedish government plans to buy 40-60 new Gripens over the next decade at a cost of two billion kronor (242 million euros).

Related Links
Aerospace News at SpaceMart.com




.
.
Get Our Free Newsletters Via Email
...
Buy Advertising Editorial Enquiries




.

. Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle



AEROSPACE
Enstrom completes Thai helicopter delivery
Bangkok (UPI) Aug 24, 2012
Enstrom Helicopter Corp. has delivered all 16 of the contracted 480B turbine training and utility helicopters to Thailand's army. Deliveries were completed on budget and ahead of contracted requirements, Enstrom said in a written statement. "From contract-signing to final delivery, we completed this program in just 19 months," Enstrom President and Chief Executive Officer Jerry M ... read more


AEROSPACE
Vecmap tracks the Asian bush mosquito

NASA Selects Combined Data Services Contract For Polar Satellites

Proba-1 microsat snaps Olympic neighbourhood

Sparse microwave imaging: A new concept in microwave imaging technology

AEROSPACE
A GPS in Your DNA

Next Galileo satellite reaches French Guiana launch site

Raytheon completes GPS OCX iteration 1.4 Critical Design Review

Mission accomplished, GIOVE-B heads into deserved retirement

AEROSPACE
Myanmar in deforestation crisis

Widespread local extinctions in tropical forest 'remnants'

Marine research in the Brazilian rain forest

Thai forces 'kill 38 Cambodian loggers in six months'

AEROSPACE
Biorefinery makes use of every bit of a soybean

Warning issued for modified algae

Genetically Engineered Algae For Biofuel Pose Potential Risks That Should Be Studied

Argentina unhappy over EU biofuels curbs

AEROSPACE
Novel technique to synthesize nanocrystals that harvest solar energy

As smart electric grid evolves, Virginia Tech engineers show how to include solar technologies

Australia leads in rooftop solar

First Light Technologies Lights up St. Pete Beach

AEROSPACE
Maximum Protection against Dust; Minimal Effort

US Wind Power Market Riding a Wave That Is Likely to Crest in 2012

Wind farms: A danger to ultra-light aircraft?

Off-shore wind power project considered

AEROSPACE
China's Yancoal Australia reviews expansion plans

BHP warns of Australian job cuts

53 rescued from China coal mine: state media

Huge Australian coal mine wins conditional approval

AEROSPACE
Tibetan monk tortured and imprisoned: rights group

Dissenters locked in China mental hospitals: rights group

China stamps down on Gu 'body-double' rumours

Canadian body parts victim was Chinese-Canadian: police


Memory Foam Mattress Review

Newsletters :: SpaceDaily Express :: SpaceWar Express :: TerraDaily Express :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News

.

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2012 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement