[JLRC]

Hungarian Gripen on its Way Final Assembly of the First Hungarian Gripen Aircraft Starts
 
 
(Source: Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, FMV; issued Oct. 1, 2004)
 
 
 At a ceremony, at Saab's aircraft factory in Linköping today, the start of the final assembly phase of the first Hungarian Gripen aircraft took place.  
 
In the presence of the Hungarian ambassador to Sweden, Dr Szöke and General Hollósi from the Hungarian Ministry of Defence the ribbon, that marks the start of the final assembly phase, was cut.  
 
" The ceremony marks an important milestone in the Gripen for Hungary program. It also means that the production of the Hungarian Gripen aircraft is on schedule," says Mats Hansson, Program Director for the Gripen for Hungary project at FMV.  
 
The final assembly phase is the final production phase before rollout. This is the phase were all parts are fitted to the aircraft fuselage, including the engine, radar, the wings, fin and the ejection seat. The final assembly phase takes about 4 months.  
 
This is the first Hungarian Gripen aircraft of the 14 (fourteen) ordered by Hungary that has reached the final assembly phase. After the final assembly the aircraft are painted and the testing, on ground and in the air, take place before they are delivered to Hungary between Mars 2006 and December 2007.  
 
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[JLRC]

MoU Signed between Bulgaria and Gripen International
 
 
(Source: Bulgarian Ministry of Defence via Gripen International; web-posted Sept. 30, 2004)
 
 
 Deputy Minister of Defense Ilko Dimitrov signed today, September 23, a Memorandum of understanding with Gripen International and with BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems International Inc.  
 
The documents define the opportunities for cooperation between the Ministry of Defense and the two companies in the area of the modernization of the Bulgarian Armed Forces.  
 
Partnership with Gripen International covers the modernization of the Air Forces, while the cooperation with BAE Systems – modernization of the information and communication systems, the command and control systems, as well as the IFF system, identification friend or foe.  
 
Signed papers envisage the creation of working groups with representatives of the Ministry and the two companies, who will develop programs for joint activities.  
 
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