Sweden’s Gripen International this week said South Africa has taken delivery of its fifth Gripen multi-role fighter as part of the country’s air force modernization and transformation program.
The aircraft, a dual seat operational type conversion variant, arrived in Cape Town on Saturday, the company said. South Africa ordered 26 Gripens including nine dual- seaters.
Deliveries of 17 single-seat fighters will commence when the dual-seat aircraft have all been taken into air force service with the final aircraft on schedule to be delivered by 2012.
The aircraft and associated industrial offset benefits are being delivered according to the schedule stipulated by South Africa when it ordered the aircraft in December 1999.
2 Squadron, stationed at AFB Makhado, in South Africa’s northern Limpopo province operates South Africa’s Gripen fleet.