As part of its 1999 Strategic Defence Procurement, South Africa signed a contract for 26 Gripen state-of-the-art multi-role fighters - intended to modernise the South African Air Force’s (SAAF) fast jet fleet and capability and support the transformation within South Africa’s armed forces. The SAAF’s first Gripen, a two-seater version, arrived in South Africa by the end of April 2008 followed by two additional aircraft a year later.