Saab, Pilatus To Promote the PC-21 if Sweden Seeks New Trainer Aircraft

Saab and Pilatus Aircraft will cooperate in bidding the Swiss company’s PC-21 if the Swedish Air Force opt to replace its SK 60 trainer.
Cooperation on the trainer is part of a wider possible tie-up the two companies agreed to when they inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the Swiss capital Bern March 28.
Plans to create an aerospace software development center and a separate aerostructures business in Switzerland are included in an MoU.
Switzerland is holding a referendum in May on whether the country should purchase 22 Gripens to replace a fleet of aging F-5’s.
The Swedish Air Force has been flying the Saab-built SK60 since the 1960s and have for some time been reviewing whether it needs to replace the twin-jet machines.
Pilatus talked about a possible order for PC-21 for Sweden.
The Swedish aerospace company upgraded a number of SK60s following the signing of a contract in September 2009.
Some 67 aircraft were upgraded but only 35 machines are required for current Swedish training requirements.
Last December Saab moved to extend its trainer aircraft interest in a team deal with Boeing to design a new trainer to compete for a US Air Force requirement to replace T-38 jet trainers.
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