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World Defense & Security News - Belgium
 
 
Saab withdraws from Belgium's F-16 fighter replacement competition
 
Sweden today declined to propose Saab's Gripen E fighter jet for the Belgian Air Force's Air Combat Capability (ACCAp) program, which intends to replace the BAF aging fleet of F-16 fighter jets, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) announced today.
     
Saab Gripen E fighter jet
(Credit: Saab)
     
"In their Request for Government Proposal, Belgium is also seeking extensive operational support from the delivering nation. This would require a Swedish foreign policy and political mandate that does not exist today. Therefore Sweden and the FMV choose not to submit an answer to the Belgian request," the FMV said.

"The procurement is ongoing and FMV will not comment further," the Agency added.

In April, Boeing first decided not to compete for Belgium's F-16 fighter jets replacement program. Boeing was supposed to answer the RfGP issued in March with its F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet.

Belgium approved in last December the purchase of 34 new fighter aircraft to be acquired from Spring 2018 for an amount of 3,573 billion euros.

Only three platforms are still competing: Lockheed Martin’s F-35A stealth fighter, the Rafale F3R from Dassault Aviation, and the Eurofighter Typhoon proposed by the eponym European consortium.