SAAB and BAE Systems, the Swedish and UK aerospace companies, have placed a US$14,7m skills and technology transfer contract with South Africa’s state-owned Denel Aviation, the two foreign companies said. The contract forms part of the defence industrial participation programme linked to South Africa’s order for 28 Gripen fighter aircraft produced jointly by Saab and BAE Systems. Saab had installed a “state-of-the-art” design bureau, equipped with a computer-aided aircraft design system, at Denel Aviation.