Saab has received two contracts for the provision of support and maintenance services for aircraft of the Swedish Coast Guard and military, the company reports.

The first award -- worth about $18.5 million -- is for field aviation services for the Coast Guard and includes technical monitoring, the supply of spares and maintenance services for aircraft, engines, radar and other special equipment.

The contract is for five years and includes an additional two-year option.

"The Coast Guard's aircraft must be available round the clock, all year round," said Jonas Hjelm, head of Saab's Support and Services business unit. "The extended agreement is a positive confirmation that we possess a unique ability to deliver a complete support solution to an operator with stringent demands for functionality and availability."

Saab has provided service support to the Coast Guard's since 2006.

The second award is an order from the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration for the support and maintenance of the Swedish Air Force's Gripen fighters during 2016, and is the exercise of an option under a 2012 contract.

The order includes support and maintenance operations with a focus on technical support, publications and component maintenance.

"This order for performance-based support and maintenance guarantees efficient operations and availability for the Gripen fighter over the coming years," Hjelm said.

Iraq receives first batch of Czech military jets: ministry
Baghdad (AFP) Nov 6, 2015 - Iraq has received the first batch of Czech L-159 jets, which can be used for both training and combat, the defence ministry said on Friday.

The first two L-159s arrived at Iraq's Balad Air Base on Thursday, defence ministry spokesman Naseer Nuri told AFP.

L-159s can be equipped with munitions for both air-to-ground and air-to-air missions, with the former being the more important for Iraqi forces battling the Islamic State jihadist group.

It is the latest in a series of aircraft deliveries that have bolstered the country's air force since IS overran large parts of Iraq last June.

Iraq recieved four F-16 warplanes in July, the first batch of a much-delayed order for 36 aircraft.

And Baghdad obtained Sukhoi Su-25 ground attack jets last year that it has used to carry out strikes against IS.

The Czech government approved the sale of 15 L-159s -- 13 with one seat and two dual-seaters -- to Iraq last March for 750 million koruna ($30 million).

But Nuri said that the deal was for a total of 12 aircraft.