Saab announced that the testing and evaluation phase for Gripen E / F and GlobalEye AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning & Command) aircraft has started under the third step of the jet fighter tender.

As part of Finland's HX Program, Saab Gripen E/F's turn has started. The first serial production standard test aircraft, the 39-10, arrived at Tampere-Pirkkala Air Base located in the north of Helsinki on January 30. Twin seater Gripen NG 39-7, which is sensor testbed and technology demonstrator, also participated in the activities that were delayed for 1 day due to bad weather conditions on January 31.

Saab GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft also joined to the HX Test process, which started on January 9-17. During the ferry flight of the platform that took off from Linköping with a Finnish Air Force delegation, there was a small briefing about the aircraft's capabilities. After the Gripen and GlobalEye tests planned to continue until February 6, F-35A Lightning II on February 7-17, F-A-18 E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler platforms will demonstrate their capabilities to Finnish authorities on February 18-26.