Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has extended the Gripen support and maintenance services contract with Saab .

The order is valued at approximately $183m (Skr1.6bn) from 1 April this year until 31 December next year.

In the first quarter of this year, Saab booked $171m (Skr1.5bn) of the order value.

The contract will see the delivery of support and maintenance services crucial for the Gripen fighter jet’s aviation operations.

It covers design and support, component maintenance, as well as the provision of logistics.

Furthermore, technical system support, publications, spare parts, repairs, ground support equipment and pilot equipment are included in the contract.

Work under the contract will be executed at the company’s Swedish facilities in Linköping, Gothenburg, Arboga, Järfälla and Östersund.

Gripen aircraft, developed by Saab , was first flown in December 1988 and entered operational service with the Swedish Air Force in 1997.

Saab Support and Services business area head Ellen Molin said: “With this extension Saab will continue to provide support for the effective operation and availability of Gripen.

“It is essential for us to constantly develop our support concept by implementing innovative solutions and this contract gives us the possibility to do so together with our customer.”

Recently, Saab conducted a test flight of an exterior 3D-printed replacement hatch component on a Gripen multirole fighter jet at its facilities in Linköping, Sweden.