Sweden has an initial clearance from the U.S. for selling its Gripen fighter to India with American engines, said Jan Salestrand, State Secretary in the Swedish Ministry of Defence.
He was talking to a select group of journalists on Wednesday at Aero India here.
On Tuesday, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had stated that foreign companies competing for deals under ‘Make in India’ drive need to get clearances from respective Governments to set up manufacturing facilities in India.
Mr. Salestrand said Sweden and the U.S. had a “Statement on Intent” signed by former U.S. Defence Secretary Ashton Carter and his Swedish counterpart Peter Hultqvist which guided the defence cooperation for equipment containing U.S. components. “All defence deals in Sweden need a licence from the Government. Here we need licence from the U.S., we buy it from them. It is a routine thing. We do not foresee any issues.”
