At a ceremony in Pretoria, South Africa's defense ministry today signed a contract to buy Hawk trainer aircraft and Gripen fighter aircraft. The $2.5 billion deal includes 24 Hawk model 100 lead-in fighter trainers built by BAE Systems and 28 Gripen advanced light fighters built by Saab of Sweden, according to a BAE Systems statement. Under the contract, the two companies will also "place work packages and technology transfers worth US$1.5 billion in South Africa's defense and aerospace sector," the...
