Gripen International.

Norway and Saab, through Gripen International, have signed a Letter of Agreement regarding the future development of the Gripen fighter. The total value of this agreement is some 150 million Norwegian Kronor (approx. $25 million). The Norwegian Defence Minister Anne-Grete Strom-Erichsen and the Swedish Defence Minister Mikael Odenberg, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on co-operation in development work on the future versions of Gripen. This agreement is an important step for Gripen as a candidate to be selected as Norway's future fighter aircraft, which is planned to be in-service with the Norwegian Air Force around 2015. Through this agreement, the Norwegian authorities and Norwegian commercial companies will get an extensive understanding and insight into the Gripen system, leading to Norwegian participation in future development work in co-operation with Saab. There was also a Letter of Agreement (LoA) signed between the Norwegian authorities and the Saab subsidiary Gripen International. This agreement will enable Norwegian companies to work on advanced development work in a range of high technology areas, such as composites, communication systems, studies and integration work for Norwegian weapon systems, ammunition, logistics and data systems. The total value is worth some 150 million NOK for a period of two years, with the option to further extend the agreement. At this time, Norwegian companies will take part in an increased industrial cooperation connected to the development of the future Gripen.