Microtecnica, the aerospace equipment specialist, has been awarded a contract to design and supply a cooling system for the Saab next generation aircraft Gripen NG.

Microtecnica will develop a Secondary Environmental Control System (SECS) in order to provide an additional cooling capacity to support the requirements of the aircraft's new avionics system. The company estimates the value of the work to be in excess of €20 million.

Gripen NG will have increased range and payload capability, complete with new avionics, new engine, and enhanced communication and electronic warfare capability.

Designed and manufactured by Microtecnica, the advanced cooling control system will use energy-saving technology that exploits the bleed air originating from the aircraft engine. Using computer-controlled valves the system will optimise its energy efficiency by accurately matching the extracted bleed flow from the engine to the actual system requirements.

Alan Bean, Chief Executive of Microtecnica, said: "We are delighted to have been awarded this prestigious contract, which helps to reaffirm our position as one of the European leaders in the supply of thermal control systems. We have previously worked with Saab to provide supplementary cooling systems for the Saab 2000 AEW&C, so the decision to invite us once again to work on this project is an expression of the confidence the company has in our world-class technical abilities."

Microtecnica is currently at the design phase of the project, which involves qualification and requirement testing.