Sweden awarded Saab a four-year contract in 2010 to improve the Gripen's radar and other equipment, integrate new weapons, and lower its operating costs.[41] In June 2010, Saab stated that Sweden plans to order the Gripen NG under the JAS 39E/F designation, and is to enter service in 2017 or possibly earlier if export orders are received.[34] On 25 August 2012, Sweden announced it planned to buy 40-60 Gripen E/Fs; this followed Switzerland's decision to buy 22 of the E/F variants.[42] The Swedish government approved the decision to purchase 60 Gripen Es on 17 January 2013,[43] with the first deliveries pushed back to 2018.
