Gripen News Thread

[signatory]

Gripen won't be at Paris airshow?

Probably not going to be there no...

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Few weeks ago I posted what was actually a old piece of news (January 2008) that Sweden was conducting studies for a air combat system 2020. This week another report came out and now it mentions a Air System 2025.. I don't know if it's a typo, another one, or that it replaced the FS 2020 (Most likely).

But it's related to Gripen either way.


image

But like the research into a theoretical E/F version (NG version) that began even before the C/D hit the market it is totally normal for the defence to run these studies to see what future product would be suitable for the armed forces quite a bit up the future. Basically it's about having a readiness. Then it's up to money and politics to decide if anything will happen.

There's alot that can be done with the Gripen system as it is firmly cutting edge on the systems side, limitations is primary on airframe but that can also be addressed like the K-FX idea or by 'smaller' adjustments like what's done with the NG program. In respect to stealth design and VLO Saab has years of practical research primarly on its UAV side which led to some interesting responsibility on the full-scaled Neuron program, a program Sweden joined with the argument that it would support the Gripen future development.

The report which is about creating a more efficient military support structure and pass savings to the operative side also mentions that marketing unit Gripen International spent 12 million SEK at FOI the Defence rersearch agency during 2008 (home of FLSC among things) and during the sale to Thailand some 50 people was involved most of them on location in Thailand. The report also recommends a new export support agency to be attached to the defense department under which gov-2-gov deals etc can be accomplished since FMV and FOI is suggested to be cleaned up and merged.

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Q. Will Sweden continue to invest in and build its Air Force around the Gripen?

A. Of course. The Gripen is the core of our Air Force and of air forces in several other countries. It is a very cost-efficient and highly capable system. We will see to it that the Gripen remains very capable and competitive until 2040 or so.

Defence News Interview: Sten Tolgfors Minister of Defence

[signatory]

Yes, We Can Has.

A Cover Girl.

...

“We are proud that our Gripen fighters are now policing the skies over the Baltic states. Gripen is a superior combat aircraft which perfectly serves the needs of the Czech Air Force. Gripen also enables us to shoulder our responsibilities within the NATO air policing mission,” says Petr Mikulenka, Base Commander Čáslav Air force Base.

link

Czech pilots first in action in Baltic

published: 22.05.2009, 10:03 | updated: 22.05.2009 10:27:49

Klaipeda - Czech pilots of the Jas-39 Gripen fighters who have protected the airspace of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia within NATO since May were used for the first time on Thursday, spokesman David Schreier from the command Air Policing told CTK today.

They intervened against a civilian plane that violated the no-fly border zone between Lithuania and Russia, monitoring it until its landing near Klaipeda, Schreier said.





Pilots Roman Svoboda and Jiri Cermak saw a plane with German immatriculation that violated the no-fly border zone nine minutes after it took off, Schreier said.

However, they did not manage to establish radio communication with its crew on the international emergency frequency.

Due to this, the control centre ordered them to fly closer to the watched aircraft in order to find out whether anything unusual occurred on its board.

After this alternative was ruled out the pilots monitored the aircraft until its landing, Schreier said, adding that the civilian aircraft would be now investigated for violation of the rules by the Lithuanian Office for Civilian Aviation.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, former republics of the Soviet Union, do not have their own fighter planes to protect their airspace.

Czech Jas-39 Gripens will patrol the airspace in the Baltic countries for four months.

Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia have been protected by NATO since 2004. Czechs are in the 20th contingent of the mission planned at least until 2011.

link

Thanks to 211.sqn for the photos who now also got fan items...








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According to scramble.nl this is the currently expected participants at Loyal Arrow next month...

No Rafales or Eurofighters up here as usual (maybe those aren't part of NRF yet?) but great to see some Eagles and Harriers come play. The British and Americans has also requested to conduct live firing exercises at the Vidsel base.

08-06/18-06

Oulu, FIN + FA-18C/D FinnAF
Bodø, N + F-16MLU RNoAF
Orland, N 1x E-3A NATO NAEW&CF

Lulea-Kallax, S
+ Tornado IDS GAF JBG32
+ Tornado ItAF
+ F-16C/D PolAF
+ MiG29 PolAF
1x C-130H PortAF Esq501
+ F-16 PortAF
3x Hkp10 (AS332) RSwedAF
+ JAS39 RSwedAF F21
+ Sk60 (Saab105) RSwedAF F21
+ F-16C/D TuAF
+ F-15E USAF 48FW
1x KC-135R USAF 100ARW
2x Da20E civil FRA

Satenas, S 1x Tp84 (C-130) RSwedAF F7

Vidsel, S + JAS39 RSwedAF F17

HMS Ark Royal + Harrier RAF/RN at sea

The Swedish Armed forces has discovered Youtube. Since Loyal Arrow is mainly hosted at F 21 here's one of their old Swedish presentation videos (with some footage from NoAM):

[*zeven*]

Thanks Sig.

liked the vid.

[signatory]

Nice photo article by D. Barrie at ARES, here's a section to read:

Doing QRA two places at the same time clearly demonstrates why they should get more jets...

The Czech Republic has acquired 14 Gripen aircraft, 12 single-seat Cs, and two twin-seat Ds, of which four are on detachment at Siauliai. The squadron also supports a national quick reaction alert capability. Mika says that of the “12 single-seat aircraft we usually have eight ready,” which he recognises leaves no spare capacity. The Gripen squadron is based at Caslav in the Czech Republic.

“During the four-month period we are strictly limiting training at home to maintain the two QRAs,” he adds.

In preparing for the detachment support personnel also structured the planned maintenance schedule to provide maximum availability of aircraft. Aircraft reliability on the detachment has – so far – been good.

The Czech Gripens are fitted with the AIM-9M Sidewinder for the air policing role, although the air force has also bought the Raytheon AIM-120-C5 Amraam for the aircraft.

The deployment is also whetting the air force’s appetite, and it is beginning to consider how it might be able to participate in the U.S Red Flag. One route would be to go alongside a Swedish air force detachment to share the logistics costs. The air force is also looking to being to train for air-to-air refuelling in 2010.

While the Czech air force is limited to one Gripen squadron is role will remain air-to-air only, though there is an ambition to acquire a second squadron, and to develop an air-to-surface capability. Whether there is the political appetite for such a move in the near-to-medium term has yet to be determined.

Full article and photos

[jontew]

Gret news as always sig! I was wondering if you have heard something more about neuron? Last I read they were cutting out the frame on a CNC..

[signatory]

Gret news as always sig! I was wondering if you have heard something more about neuron? Last I read they were cutting out the frame on a CNC..

Yeap exactly, subcontractors and partners is producing sections for the airframe and the UCAV will begin to be assembled at Saab using those parts etc after the summer. And we have short summers up here so it's not that long from now

[lightfire]

Last week Gripens got scrambled over the German couple who without announcing entered Lithuanian airspace from Poland. A small Cessna aircraft. There was a small chase - nice view while fighter jets are circling small propeller aircraft. The scared German pilot has landed in the local airfield and then... disappeared (the couple) believing he has done smth terribly wrong..

[*zeven*]

HAHA (old news) but damn funny.,

[BMUS]

any link?
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[Skyman]

The June issue of AirForce Monthly publish the photo of Thai Gripen in production line on page 28. I don't want to make a scan, it's a copyright protected magazine but does singatory or anyone got some photos of it?

[signatory]

The June issue of AirForce Monthly publish the photo of Thai Gripen in production line on page 28. I don't want to make a scan, it's a copyright protected magazine but does singatory or anyone got some photos of it?

Unfortunately not... does the photo show the A/C number?

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More from the Czech BAP Deployment

Full story on the link.

"A signal informing about an A-Scramble rang at 17:30. Our pilots were airborne at 17:41 and intercepted a German-registered aircraft at 17:50," says Lt Col David Schreier, liaison officer of the Czech air policing detachment. Restricted from approaching within 1,000ft (305m) of the potential threat, the Gripens monitored the aircraft until it landed at Lithuania's Klaipeda airfield, before they returned to Siauliai.

"We learnt the day after that the aircraft had had a flight plan through that area, but it was not activated by the Brussels flight co-ordination centre," says Schreier. Typical of most recent incidents, the event was the first in several months over the Baltic states: the previous Danish Lockheed Martin F-16 contingent did not conduct an Alpha scramble during its entire tour of duty. US Air Force Boeing F-15s were twice launched from Siauliai between October and December 2008.

[..]

The aircraft had logged 72h in 48 sorties by 19 May, and Míka says: "We haven't had any major maintenance issues; we keep four aircraft in flying condition." He praises the Gripen's on-board diagnostics system, noting: "Straight after landing you know what it is necessary to maintain."

Some Swedish support personnel are also based at Cáslav under the lease deal, and the air force brought two of these to Siualiai at the start of the detachment. But in a sign of the squadron's independence they soon returned to the Czech Republic. "There was nothing for them to do," says Míka. "We are doing well," adds Buchta. "It was good preparation, and we have found solutions to problems."

Flight Global

[Skyman]

Unfortunately not... does the photo show the A/C number?

There are a paper banner in the photo said FPL 5860 .........

[signatory]

There are a paper banner in the photo said FPL 5860 .........

A twin stick for Thailand


News. Sounds like a fair way forward... FMV has also said that they have not had any request to delay the batch 2 option.

Defence is in need of Gripen fighters
By Panya Thiewsangwan
Published on May 30, 2009

"As and when the economy improves and the country is in a position to earmark the budget for security-related procurement, the fighter jets will be bought and deployed," he said.

Prawit said he expected the Cabinet to approve the procurement plan in principle, pending the state of the economy, at its meeting next Tuesday

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan yesterday said his ministry would push for the Bt15.4-billion procurement of six Gripen fighter aircraft, although they would only be bought when the fiscal situation permitted such a costly purchase.

The procurement, if approved, will be spread over five years from the next fiscal year starting in October.

Prawit said the six Swedish jets, when added to the other Gripens already in deployment, would form a wing of 12 fighter aircraft, replacing the ageing F-5 jets that have been in service since 1966.

He said all military procurement plans had been put on hold in light of the economic downturn. However, the Air Force needs to have its budgetary plan approved in principle in order to make the necessary preparations for deployment of the aircraft.

The proposed Bt5-billion purchase of four search-and-rescue helicopters will be treated in the same way, the defence minister said.

The Air Force is eager that the public fully understands the ministry's procurement plan, said deputy spokesman Group Captain Monthon Satchukorn.

If the government deems it necessary, Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Ithi**** Suphawong is willing to withdraw the plan in order to delay the Cabinet debate on the issue, Monthon said.

The plan has been forwarded to the Cabinet with an understanding that the budget would be approved in principle without actual disbursement of funds at this juncture, he added.

http://nationmultimedia.com/2009/05/...s_30103928.php

[signatory]

I suppose some people want to know:

Brazilian defense committee delegation in Sweden

Schedule June 1-2

Monday

SAAB, Linkoping
w/Minister of Defence, Sten Tolgfors

Tuesday

Foreign Ministry, Stockholm
w/Minister for Trade, Ewa Björling


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gg Robin.

[signatory]

Some feedback on the Brazilian visit at Saab.

babelfish

Yesterday I visited Linköping. Early in the day I met a group of parliamentarians from Brazil, who is visiting SAAB. We deepened [our talks] in the opportunities that Gripen offers Brazil, in the form of joint development of the next generation of the aircraft. It is about a aircraft with the highest performance, but low operating costs.

link

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SAAF will have all of its twin seaters this year and the single-seaters begin to arrive early next year.

First SA single-seat Gripens on production line

Written by Leon Engelbrecht
Monday, 01 June 2009

The first single-seat Gripen advanced light fighter aircraft on order for the South African Air Force as part of Project Ukhozi is already on the Saab production line at Linköping in Sweden.

SA is purchasing 26 of the fighters for R19.9 billion.

The Air Force purchased nine two-seater and 17 single seat aircraft. Seven of the nine two-seaters have already been delivered and the remaining two will arrive in SA later this year.

The first gun-equipped single-seat fighter will arrive at 2 Squadron at AFB Makhado by early next year.

The aircraft will next year help enforce no fly zones over Soccer World Cup venues. Chief of the Air Force Lt Carlo Gagiano earlier this year said he wanted some of the versatile fighters on interceptor duty for the FIFA event.

The single seat Gripen variant is fitted with a 27mm Mauser cannon while the two-seater requires a pod-fitted gun. Both can carry missiles. The SAAF lat year ordered a number of IRIS-T (Infra Red Imaging System Tail/Thrust Vector Controlled) short-range air-to-air missiles for the fighter.

Link

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(c) Kos Kosov

Ambassador's visit to the CzAF Air policing misison

At the meeting a presentation showed they had by last week completed 66 sorties logging 89 Fh.



link