This does appear to be a triumph of defense procurement.

$600 million is the price tag for the upgrade on the Gripen, where they replace the RM 12 (F404 derivative) with a GE F414G, giving about 25% more thrust, strengthen and relocate the landing gear, add more fuel, add two hard points for weapons carriage, and offer an AESA radar (though the radar seems to be an extra cost option).

While not quite as extensive as the F/A-18 C/D to F/A-18 E/F upgrade, the fuselage and wing profiles are nearly unchanged, the fact that they are doing this upgrade for something around the cost of a dozen aircraft is amazing.

My emotions mirror Bill Sweetman’s:

The whole deal cost the Swedish government – are you sitting down? – the equivalent of $600 million. That’s a little over half what the US will spend in one year on putting radios and plush carpets in the Presidential helicopter, and about the same as one year’s R&D on F-22 upgrades. And we wonder why we can’t afford our defense needs.

I’ve been invited to speak at next week’s event in Linkoping, and will take the opportunity to ask the Swedes how they did it.