Sweden's Saab says Swiss mulling Gripen fighters

STOCKHOLM Jan 18 (Reuters) - Swedish aerospace firm Saab (SAABb.ST) said on Friday that Switzerland was mulling buying its state-of-art Gripen fighter in a deal potentially worth billions of Swedish crowns.

Saab said that Switzerland had requested it to tender for a contract to replace its fleet of F-5 fighters around the year 2013. Saab is one of four candidates.

The Swedish firm will submit its offer in the middle of 2008 with a decision due in 2009.

"There is massive interest in Gripen right now, which confirms our strong position on the world market," Ake Svensson, Saab's chief executive said in a statement.

In addition to Switzerland, Norway has asked Saab to submit a bid for up to 48 Gripen fighters. There, Saab is competing with the American JSF fighter for the contract.

Norway will decide on which plane to buy in spring 2009 with deliveries to begin in 2015.

Denmark and India are also looking at buying Gripen fighters. (Reporting by Simon Johnson; Editing by Paul Bolding)