Reply With QuoteIndia is sending its Su-30MKI's with its BARS PESA Radar's switched off!!!!
Brazil is also supposed to be there during period 1 and a few other European nations. I'll find out more today. Period 2 will get interesting as India is supposed to bring its SU-30's. As I get more info I'll PM you.Originally Posted by Atle
India is sending its Su-30MKI's with its BARS PESA Radar's switched off!!!!
Uh, ok?
Thanks for the info, Sig. I'm not sure if I will be able to attend. If I do I'll post some of the Gripen pics in this thread.
Rapier
There is quite lot of pressure from the Russians as well as from the Indian Airforce higher ups, not to divluge the Radar secrets. It is the best Russia has produced thus far, which is operational.
PS: 8 Su-30 MKI's (no information about which squadron) 1 IL-78 Midas and IL-76 Cargo is supposed to be flying down in August.
Last edited by Adux; 06-05-2008 at 11:08 AM.
I fully understand the sensitivity of the radar/EW issues. I just didn't want to derail the thread. I'm sure by period 2 all of the small details will be worked out.
Itec 2008
Just a quick reminder,
ITEC 2008 (10-12 June) is about to start!
"ITEC is the only conference and exhibition outside the USA, dedicated to defence training, simulation and education. ITEC delivers training and simulation senior officials and procurement officers from the international military and defence industry. Showcasing products and services from training and simulation industry.
The prestigious 3 day ITEC Conference will cover all types of training solutions, systems, methodologies and procurement ideas and is a premier networking event in which to meet military and defence training experts. ITEC offers a world of opportunity with visitors from over 45 countries.
ITEC 2008 will be taking place in Stockholm, Sweden for the first time. Sweden is in the heart of the most ambitious and extensive multinational training and simulation exercises for 2008."
Why Sweden?: http://www.itec.co.uk/page.cfm/link=157
In conjunction with this event SAAB also released an EXPLOSIVEnew video featuring some hot new Gripen action:
http://saab.qbrick.com/playlist.aspx...37&chapterid=0
Fourth Gripen offset report approved in the Czech Republic
Gripen Industrial co-operation moves forward and the fourth annual Report on Offset Performance in the Czech Republic approved by the Czech Ministry of Defence amounts to CZK 2.6 billion.(approx 104 million EUR).
2008-06-09 | On 2 June 2008 the Czech Ministry of Defence approved a total of 2.6 billion Czech Crowns worth of offset for the calendar year 2007. The total value of the Offset generated within the Gripen programme now amounts to 11.3 billion Czech Crowns (approx 450 million EUR) representing 44% of the total Offset obligation. The full offset obligation is to be discharged within a 10-year period from the effective date of the Offset Agreement, signed on 14 June 2004.
“We are well ahead of our milestone target and we are pleased to receive the positive response from the Czech Ministry of Defence. This result proves that Gripen Offset Programme provides an excellent way of establishing contacts and networks, which in turn has generated beneficial business opportunities that stimulate long-term growth and development of Czech industry,” says Bengt Littke, Gripen Internationals Programme Director for Czech Republic.
“We are pleased with this years result. The offset programme is ahead of schedule and based on experience from previous years Czech Republic should continue to benefit from the Gripen Industrial co-operation also in future. Czech Republic didn’t just receive a fighter but a long term economic advantage.” says Andrej Cirtek, spokesperson of Czech Republic’s Defense Ministry.
(c) http://www.211squadron.cz
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BOEING Being Cool
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ETC
(c) Alf sunburned and tired @ Flickr
Gripen was at the Danish Airshow this weekend.
The Danish Mod run a video site where those airdisplays and military news can be viewed. If you don't understand Danish... either get drunk then try again or just click around on the buttons until you find something.
http://www.forsvarskanalen.dk/
Seems odd to say something like that about a competitor, it could easily come back and bite them in the arse.. unless they know something we don't know.. like a boeing bid on saab in the near future?! What's the probability of that happening?
"if you can't beat 'em, buy 'em"
VIDSEL
The Swedish Gripen Test and Evaluation Unit TU JAS as well as the Hungarian air force is spending some time at the Vidsel testranges.
TU JAS at Vidsel
JAS 39D having a drink...
TU JAS is preparing instructions on aerial refueling which will be introduced in the Swedish pilot training later this year and at Vidsel they fly against the only tanker Sweden got, a C-130 with tanker kit.
Landing on a shorttrack at Vidsel
http://www.flygvapnet.mil.se/index.p...=news&id=41357
Hungarians at F 17 for refueling on their way to Vidsel.
Hungarians prefer to drink sitting down...
Three AN26 and the six JAS 39 jets went to Vidsel earlier this week.
Outlines NEAT area which holds the Vidsel base.
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Last edited by signatory; 06-13-2008 at 09:17 AM.
Misc News
CBTS
Saab opens Vardř officeEltanin is contracted by BAE Systems C-ITS in Sweden to assist in the media production for the Gripen Computer Based Training System (CBTS) which will be delivered to the South African Air Force. The training system will be delivered by April 2008 and installed at the Makado Air Force Base in support of training Pilots and Maintenance Personnel on the Gripen Fighter.
linkBarentsobserver.com: Already in September this year the Swedish corporation Saab will open its first office in the northernmost Norwegian county of Finnmark, in the coastal town of Vardř. The further expansion of the company in the region will depend on whether the Norwegian government chooses to buy Saabs jet fighter Gripen or not.
Fighter unit SE01 to be transformed
Force Commander, brigader general Karl Engelbrektson says thanks you to the people for work done during NBG readiness time.
SE01 held a 10 day operational readiness time for the EU battle group NBG and now as the BG dissolves the fighter unit will transform and assume a lower readiness of 90 days since July 1st.
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Brazil
The CEO of Saab recently said they expect a Brazilian tender process to start this fall and could be about up to 80 jets. Bengt Janér has been appointed head of the Gripen Brazil campaign.
A interview with him is here (ty bolovo)
(c) Defesanet
GI's Bengt Janér next to the Brazilian ambassador to Sweden Antonino Golçalves at the Gripen Demo roll out in April.
The Brazilian Air force will get a chance to work with Swedish Gripens at Red flag. A Swedish article about that also lists Turkey and "NATO" as participants.
Coatings
Skiier Oskar Svärd hopes to beat out the competition using skiis prepared by the same technique used to repaint the Gripen jets...
What's next ? Canards?
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coatings removal
Last edited by signatory; 06-13-2008 at 09:11 AM.
Gripen is on the road right? I laugh when magine that Thai Gripen do this and get stuck in the terrible traffic of Bangkok. Gripen could play well in 'Red Flag' but will be defeated easily by 'Red Light'.VIDSEL
The Swedish Gripen Test and Evaluation Unit TU JAS as well as the Hungarian air force is spending some time at the Vidsel testranges.
TU JAS at Vidsel
Just a little joke for today.
Good one Skyman
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Swiss tests
Switzerland will test the JAS Gripen at Emmen AFB during July 28 to August 11. It will be 28 sorties both day and night during this period.
Spotters is flocking to Emmen for the chance to see the new euro-canards...
The Swiss often fly in Sweden since they haven't got enough closed airspace for large exercises which could benefit Saab well in the current fighter tender. Both the Gripen base infrastructure and a not too distant commonality with the F-18 in terms of weapons and engine.
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Hungarian update
A small article about the exercise 9-13 June that HuAF flew up in Sweden. Commandor Nandor Killian comments with:
"This is heaven. We could never be able to exercise as realistic and effectively anywhere else. The vaste exercise area is a fantastic asset. We have no problems in the area regarding civilian air traffic and the size of the area is something that can't be provided anywhere else. When we also have the means to shoot live fire at the Vidsel range this provides us with optimal possibilities."
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Air ducts in composite
Saab Aerostructures is looking for a construction engineer that will work on changing the material in the air ducts from aluminium to a composite material.
"In order to develop the aircraft towards future needs as well as reducing weight the possibilities to use a load-bearing air duct made out of composites is being studied."
(The ducts is a internal air canal leading from the inlets to the engine.)
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Mini-Analysis
So I'm getting a new Gorenje oven this month and it got me thinking about Slovenia...
New NATO member Slovenia has done a good effort in adapting to alliance requirements by modernization but is still missing one very costly component, a airforce with supersonic fighters. Today Italy provides air space protection out of their own bases.
But what does it protect ? What do you do when a a unidentified jet, possibly hijacked, is coming in from neutral airspace and heading fast towards your capital city?
Recently, back in March during the ADTRAC'08 exercise two Hungarian Gripens and two Italian Typhoons trained air defense protection of Slovenian air space from their home bases.
The eurocanards were assigned the role to intercept a intruder played by a Pilatus PC-9. The bases Grosseto (IT) and Kecskemét (HU) [see map] is both at ~400 Km bird's distance from central Slovenia.
There's no article on how well it played out but if we consider dry speeds of 1000km/h that's roughly 24 minutes of flight. Plus time in chain of command and scramble responses we're likely talking no less than 30 minutes for a visual identification. Leaving little time and fuel for escort duties.
If Slovenia otoh had its own jets that distance would be 40-100km depending on base position. Corresponding to 3-6 minutes of flight to its outer border. With plenty of fuel left for escort duties. The visualization time could further be reduced by a real possibility to spend fuel on afterburner.
So with the option of 30 minutes or 5 minutes being a cost issue rather than anything else is Slovenia about to bite the bullet and start a fighter tender anytime soon? All the neighbour countries has now introduced new or upgraded fighters except Croatia who is now running a process.
The Defence Minister Karl Erjavec has for several years held a dream to introduce own fighters but there's simply too much modernization projects under way to find political support for further defense expenditure. But the long term ambition is not dead and the topic is up for NATO discussions again. The question is not so much as "if" but "when?".
At the moment there's what could be descibed as a window of opportunity in securing either Gripen 39C/D, Mirages or F-16 jets at decent prices. New jets will most likely continue to increase in price, as will fuel costs and wages for pilots and service personnel. If Slovenia does not act relatively soon the best deals could disappear. Perhaps they can start up a process within five years and look at a operational division by 2015-2018.
Front runners should be second hand USAF F-16s supplied free but with a need to be upgraded, 2nd hand F-16 MLU from countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands, Surplus Tranche 1 Typhoons and new JAS39C/D or even E/F under a lease-to-buy payment plan. The Gripen would offer the lowest operating costs and small logistical footprint and if other deals is to go by there will be offsets for Slovenian industry which could help relax the political opposition.
Either way, I hope they find a new solution some day.
A HuAF Gripen home after an intercept...
Last edited by signatory; 06-14-2008 at 06:29 AM.
Hahaha you guys are crazy
Signatory.
thanks for all the great updates, even better than www.gripen.com
anyway i´ve seen all your vids on youtube. and read alot from you all over the internet, for a long time now.
i guess you´re in some way related to the swedish military if not, maybe in the engineering business, am i right? just curious. sorry i know it´s OFF topic.
I´ve one more off topic question if thats ok.
im on hostal territory to say at least, norwegian forums F-35 vs Gripen NG
is it any project/program that you´re aware about, to counter the advantage of VLO-plattforms in BVR engagements, or does gripen possess something to equalize the odds, regarding PAK-FA and other upcoming VLO-platformes in the future.
it´s a hard argument to crack, when you debate for the gripen plattform.
however i´m sorry for my offtopic post.
Last edited by gripen_39; 06-16-2008 at 12:17 AM.
Brazil issues 120-aircraft request to five fighter manufacturers
linkBrazil has revived its delayed search for a next-generation multirole combat aircraft, and in early June issued requests for information to five bidders for its new F-X2 contest. Its initial requirement is for a batch of 36 fighters, although the total programme is for 120 aircraft to be delivered from 2014 until post-2020.
Bidders for the new contest have been restricted to the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Saab Gripen NG (Next Generation) and the Sukhoi Su-35. The selected type will replace some of the Brazilian air force's Alenia/Embraer AMX ground-attack aircraft and its upgraded Northrop F-5 fighters, plus a recently acquired batch of ex-French air force Dassault Mirage 2000s.
Industry sources say the RFI requests the delivery of an "established, proven airframe" with supersonic performance, network connectivity and multirole capabilities. The document does not specify whether companies should offer an active electronically scanned array radar with the aircraft, but says both within- and beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles should be supplied.
The F-X2 programme also includes an offset requirement worth 100% of the total acquisition costs, with licensed manufacturing of the selected fighter's airframe, avionics and engines requested during the life of the programme.
Brazil's earlier F-X fighter contest was abandoned in 2005 due to budgetary pressures, and the replacement project had been tipped for launch early this year. However, the defence ministry's new shortlist will come as a disappointment to Lockheed, which was interested in offering its F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
Speaking earlier this month, Embraer officials said that unlike the previous contest, local industry will not be encouraged to partner directly with the bidding F-X2 companies, and that the Brazilian government and air force will instead head this part of the project.
And unlike the Indian tender... No invitation to Lockheed for F-16s.
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First SwAF Gripen pilot new Washington DA
Congratulations to former air chief inspector Jan Andersson who has been appointed Sweden's Defense Attaché to the United States.
He will head the defense section at the Swedish embassy. Jan Andersson was the first pilot to be trained on SwAF Gripens.
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Bodř air Show
Gripen was present at that Norwegian air show this weekend. On the ground and in the air.
link to mixed photos from the show
F7
@ Gripen_39, thanks for your comments. Sorry, I don't have the time to go off-topic atm and that's not really a discussion for this thread anyway which we collectively try to keep as clean as possible for news only. Maybe you could find (or create) a more general thread as some of those issues typically apply to other platforms as well...
Last edited by signatory; 06-16-2008 at 11:03 AM.
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