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I'm gonna use this thread and I hope others will too for news regarding the SAAB Gripen jet and associated systems.
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Gripen to present CARRIER BASED jet for UK/India at Farnborough
SOURCE:Flight International
New Gripen variants studied by Saab
Saab-led Gripen International is studying future development options for its Gripen multirole fighter, including the possible installation of a more powerful engine, increasing the type’s overall size and maximum take-off weight, and the potential availability of a carrierborne strike variant.
Intended to boost the long-term export prospects for the single-engined Gripen – as competition increases from rival types over the next decade – the enhancements could result in a modification package similar to the Super Hornet enhancement to Boeing’s baseline F/A-18, say industry sources.
While the Gripen’s current Volvo Aero-supplied RM12 turbofan engine could be further modified to deliver a 10-15% increase in thrust to meet future fighter requirements in Denmark and Norway, company officials say the installation of thelarger General Electric F414 could provide 25% more power, increasing the aircraft’s operating range and payload.
If implemented, use of the F414 would require major structural changes to the current Gripen airframe, with these to include a larger centre fuselage barrel, enlarged engine inlets, redesigned nose gear and a need to provide additional internal fuel capacity, say industry sources.
Other potential capability enhancements for the Gripen include the proposed integration of an active electronically scanned array (AESA) for the aircraft’s Ericsson PS05 multimode radar from around 2012, says Jonas Branzell, the company’s project manager for airborne radars. A multi-channel AESA could be available from 2015, followed by a fully multifunctional system from 2018, he says. Both would draw on technologies developed during Ericsson’s ongoing Nora demonstration project.
Models of enlarged and carrierborne fighter concepts of the Gripen are expected to be unveiled at the Farnborough air show in mid-July, says Gripen International.
The latter is understood to have emerged as a potential candidate to meet Indian navy maritime strike requirements, but could also be offered to countries like the UK if the Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter project encounters future difficulties.
http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles...d+by+Saab.html
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Red Flag to test Swedes
The Swedish air force is to conduct its first major overseas deployment of the Saab JAS39C/D Gripen fighter in early July, with seven of its aircraft to be flown to the USA to participate in the inaugural Red Flag Alaska exercise.
Five single-seat Gripen Cs and two two-seat Ds will depart Ronneby airbase in Sweden on 13 July for an approximately 5,500nm (10,200km) outbound deployment to be conducted without in-flight refuelling and divided into eight legs. To be accompanied by two Lockheed Martin C-130H transports, the aircraft and 12 pilots are scheduled to arrive at Eilson AFB, Alaska on 17 July, one week before the start of Red Flag flying activities, which will conclude on 4 August.
Between four and six of the aircraft will conduct two missions a day during the exercise, conducting tasks such as air intercept, daylight ground attack and offensive air operations, says Swedish Red Flag detachment commander Lt Col Ken Lindberg. “Gripen is going to be seen in every role,” including leading composite air packages with other participating nations, he says. Previously referred to as exercise “Cooperative Cope Thunder”, the manoeuvres are expected to involve 47 fighters and six support aircraft from the US Air Force and coalition countries.
To prepare for the Red Flag detachment, six Gripen C/Ds participated in a two-week exercise at Sweden’s Vidsel test range in early June, logging 175 flight hours and dropping six Paveway laser-guided bombs using Litening III targeting pods and ground-based forward air controllers. The exercise was also used to prove recent upgrades performed by the air force’s operational test and evaluation unit at Malmen airbase, including software and communications modifications and the integration of a podded rangeless debriefing system.
http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles...st+Swedes.html
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Originally Posted by Bert
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