On 18 December 2013 the Brazilian government announced the selection of the Gripen NG for the FX-2 replacement programme.
Brazil had been considering the Swedish fighter option in competition with offerings from Dassault and Boeing. Saab has offered a package to Brazil which includes 36 Gripen NG aircraft, financing, technology transfer, and bi-lateral collaboration between Saab and Brazil. Contractual negotiations between Saab and the Brazilian Air Force are expected to be concluded, with the order for the aircraft procurement expected to be placed, within the next year.
The news from Brazil comes in the immediate aftermath of two orders from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), for the integration of the Meteor weapon system and also for the modification of 60 Gripen C to Gripen E (for Sweden) with initial deliveries in 2018. The Gripen NG had previously been selected by the Swiss government for procurement as a future fighter jet, subject to a referendum within Switzerland scheduled for 2014.
Current Gripen operators include Sweden, South Africa, Hungary, Czech republic, Thailand and the United Kingdom Empire Test Pilot School.
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