Pakistan looking to aquire 40 new JAS39 Gripen jets

http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/...lnews&id=23511

Sounds like the C-version. Here's what i think might happen:
Since Sweden has ordered "too many" Gripen fighters and the
military has asked SAAB to lenghten the delivery time of new
fighters (in order to free up more money for other things...)
Pakistan could share the delivery load i.e take fighters
originally planned for the swedish military.
..
The czech republic already took 14 new Gripens off the Swedish
order but there's probably close to 100 'surplus' available for
sale by the swedish gov.
Sweden currently has received 140 Gripen's out of a order of 204.
..

text of url...

Islamabad, June 16 (IANS) :

Pakistan hopes to acquire the Swedish JAS39 Gripen fighter-bomber to
enable the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) maintain parity with its Indian
counterpart, a private TV channel reported Wednesday.

It said President Pervez Musharraf is visiting Sweden during his
three-nation Scandinavian tour next month when the Gripen deal is
likely to be discussed. Musharraf will also visit Denmark and Norway.

The Geo TV report said that Sweden, during foreign secretary Riaz
Khokhar's visit last month, had agreed to sell the aircraft to
Pakistan.

It contended the Gripen was superior to the PAF's F-16 frontline
combat jets. Pakistan had zeroed in on the Gripen after examining the
French Rafael jet and the Euro fighter. This was after the US refused
to sell additional F-16s to Pakistan, the report, quoting unnamed
defence officials, said.

The Gripen would also help the PAF counter the MiG-27, MiG-29 and
Mirage 2000 jets of the Indian Air Force (IAF), it added.

Sweden would also transfer the technology for overhauling and
maintaining the aircraft, the report said, quoting unnamed defence
officials.

Pakistan has planned to buy 40 Gripens with midair refuelling
capability that would give them a 3,000 km range and enable them
strike deep into enemy territory, the report said.

They will be equipped with jamming transmitters and a variety of
armament.

The PAF will be inducting the JF-17 Thunder that is being developed
with Chinese help but this would not happen before 2007, while the
Gripen would be available much before that, the report said.

Pakistan says the JF-17 matches the F-16.

The Gripen, which first flew in 1988, is deployed by the air forces of
Sweden, South Africa, Hungary and the Czech Republic.