SWEDISH aerospace and defence group Saab AB swung to profit in 1998 as the effects of scrapping production of its loss-making regional aircraft bore fruit, it said on Tuesday. Saab, partly owned by British Aerospace , posted a 1998 profit after financial items of 1,22-billion crowns (about R939000) compared to a loss of 4,85-billion crowns(about R3,864000) in 1997. Saab’s Military Aerospace business unit, which makes up most of its sales and included the JAS 39 Gripen combat aircraft, posted sales of 4,57-billion crowns (about R3,641__000) for 1998 compared to 4,48-billion crowns (about R3,569000) in the previous year. The South African government has named Saab as its preferred supplier of 24 Gripen jet fighters.