Gripen around the world

les ingenieurs de SAAB ont eu bien du mal a maitriser les CDVE sur les premiers prototypes du Gripen A , il y a eu plusieurs crashs au debut

Ce n'est pas plutôt du a un vent fort ? j'ai l'impression que la cime des arbres est orientés vers la gauche

je cite wiki , je crois en plus qu il s agit du meme pilote dans les 02 crashs

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Accidents

• Le 2 février 1989, le premier prototype du Gripen est endommagé à l'atterrissage suite à un défaut des commandes de vol électriques. Le pilote est légèrement blessé
  
• Le 8 août 1993, le second Gripen de série s'écrase lors d'un meeting aérien, après être devenu incontrôlable suite à un défaut des commandes de vol électriques. Le pilote s'éjecte à temps
  

c'est un probleme technique d'equilibre, stabilité ( CDVE ) en panne surement sur ce premiers prototype du gripen. le pilote ce n'est sortie indeme avec quelques blessure. je ne pense pas qu'il c'est ejecté le pilote il est resté dedans le meraculeux

Il a de la chance dans son malheur ce pilote

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Raven Radar Supports Gripen Upgrade
The Saab Gripen Next Generation flight proving and demonstration programme has received critical support from the Selex-built Raven 1000P.
Raven 1000P is the prototype of Selex's Raven ES-05 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar.
Raven ES-05, a high-performance, premium fire control radar, has higher reliability than mechanically scanned radars.
As part of the programme, Selex and Saab demonstrated radar modes in flight and integrated radar into the weapon system, proving real capability in very short timescales.
In the air-to-ground capability, Raven 1000P produced excellent medium and high-resolution SAR imagery at long range.
Selex Galileo was awarded the contract by Saab to supply two key sensors, the Raven ES-05 and the infrared search and track (IRST) system SKYWARD-G for the programme.
Saab will use the Raven ES-05 and the IRST to guarantee full mission effectiveness of the next-generation aircraft.

airforce-technology

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SAAB NG Demo flies from it’s nest.
Last week the Gripen NG demo was making its Iinternational debut by taking part in the last phase of the Indian evaluation trials for the MMRCA (Medium Multi- Role Combat Aircraft) tender in India.
To date the aircraft has flown some 135 test flights in Sweden and is now testing its wings abroad, showing the international arena that next generation Gripen fighter development is on track.
“This achievement just shows the expertise and high technology capability that Sweden boasts in developing and manufacturing a fighter aircraft of this calibre. Several International pilots have already flown and evaluated the Gripen NG demo in Sweden, including pilots from Brazil and India and we are confident that this aircraft meets, or exceeds every operational requirement raised by the Indian Air Force,” says Eddy de la Motte, Gripen Campaign Director, India.
The harsh environment of the Leh airbase, 3300m high up in the Himalayas, proved to be no match for the Swedish fighter where it cleared the high altitude trials.
The Gripen NG demo is the flying platform which is being used to train and develop the new technologies and features incorporated into the Gripen NG. The Gripen NG has been specifically developed to meet the operational requirements of countries such as India and Brazil, which requires a next generation fighter with significantly increased combat range and endurance, increased payload and super cruise capability.
Source: SAAB

Photos durant Malmen Airshow

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SAAB offers Gripen NG to India


June 24, 2010 by Marcel van Leeuwen · Leave a Comment

The Gripen for Inda as Saab sees it:
Gripen IN is the most technologically advanced fighter aircraft in the world. Gripen IN is equipped with futuristic warfare technologies developed specifically for India and will be the first of the new generation, multi-role combat aircraft to enter service.
The Gripen IN in short:

Photo: ILA 2010 M. van Leeuwen Z.A.P.P.

• A powerful and proven engine
  
• AESA radar
  
• Advanced Communication systems
  
• Tactical Data Link
  
• Supercruise
  
• Advanced Electronic warfare
  
• Strategic reach
  
• Advanced Weapons Capacity
  
• Customer-specific weapons
  

Gripen IN – The independent choice:

• The world’s most technologically advanced multi-role fighter aircraft with futuristic warfare technologies developed specifically for India
  
• Meets or exceeds all defined operational requirement raised by the IAF in all roles
  
• Provides exceptional autonomous multi role capability in normal and hostile FOB operations, and acts as the perfect force multiplier
  
• Has substantially lower real Life Cycle Cost than it’s nearest competitor
  
• The only option that will fundamentally shift India’s defence technology prowess to one that is able to realise its ambition of being an independent global player
  
• In combination with the Industrial Cooperation program, Gripen’s program for IAF, Indian Defence and industrial establishment will make India by 2020 completely independent of the need to purchase combat aircraft from other countries and make it an exporter of aircraft like Sweden
  

Strategic leverage
Gripen is the only option that will fundamentally shift India’s defence technology prowess to one that is able to realise its ambition of being an independent global player.
Achieved through:

• Transfer of technology: all aspects of the product life cycle
  
• Industrial cooperation programme: covering key technologies
  
• Partnership around future generation fighter aircraft
  

In combination with the above, Gripen’s program for IAF, Indian Defence and industrial establishment will make India by 2020 completely independent of the need to purchase combat aircraft from other countries and make it an exporter of aircraft like Sweden.
Operational dominance
Given India’s large airspace boundaries and its potential threats requires an air
defence and air combat fleet that will give it operational dominance along its borders with five countries and a 7,500 plus kilometres coastline over the next four decades. The aircraft it requires should be able to deliver not only air power and air combat superiority but also logistical, multi-role and versatility in weapons and systems integration.
Strategic Reach:

• Forward Operating bases
  
• Ground Support Equipment
  
• Rapid turnaround with minimal personnel
  
• More time in the air
  
• Supercruise
  
• Superior situational awareness
  
• Advanced weapons & sensors, more aircraft per dollar
  

Defining the future
At delivery, Gripen IN will be the only aircraft that will be state of the art in technology and superior to other aircraft and the only one being modern at end of delivery.

Photo: ILA 2010 M. van Leeuwen Z.A.P.P.

Performance:

• Highly agile
  
• Multi-role capability
  
• Highly effective in all roles
  
• Supercruise
  
• Strategic reach
  
• Netcentric capability
  
• Carefree manoeuvring
  
• Advanced data link
  
• Extensive electronic warfaresystem
  

Unbeatable life cycle cost (LCC)


Gripen will, over life, cost the Indian Government very significantly less than its nearest competitor.

• Low LCC is one of the fundamental design criteria
  
• Single engine
  
• High MTBF
  
• Low MTTR
  
• Selfdiagnosis
  
• Minimum of recourses like GSE training and personal
  
• On condition maintenance
  

A smooth transition into operational service for IAF


- Deliveries from 2013: Initial deliveries time phased in accordance with operational requirements
- Perfect match with the SU-30 MKI and a true force multiplier using Tactical Data Link
- Experience of fleet transitions for Czech and Hungarian MIG-21 fleets
- Minimum logistics footprint
- Optimized training solution
- computerized training aids
- embedded training functions
- Customer adapted maintenance solution
Transfer of Technology (TOT)

• Saab is willing and able to provide ToT, that exceeds the requirements, to the Indian Government
  
• The level of ToT will enable India to manage all aspects of the life cycle including design
  
• Access to all levels of technology
  
• Saab is willing to enter a joint venture with Indian Aerospace Industry
  with the aim to develop the next generation of fighters (MCA)
  

Genuine industrial co-operation in high technology areas

• India will be a key development and manufacturing hub for Saab and play a major role in development, production and support of future development programs.
  
• Saab / Gripen International Industrial Network will provide substantial and
  long-term joint venture growth for the Indian Aerospace and Defence sector
  
• Substantial involvement in the Gripen development program
  
• Joint exploitation of other defence, security and aerospace opportunities
  
• Joint exploration of civil security and other non defence projects
  
• Industrial cooperation greater than 50% of contracted value
  

Source: SAAB press release

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More fuel under the wings



'Copyright Saab AB' Photo: Stefan Kalm

The Gripen NG Demo is now flying with new extra large drop-tanks. Instead of the more traditional 300 gallon tanks used by Gripen C/D these new external tanks can carry 450 gallons of fuel each
Combined with added spaces for internal fuel and a more fuel efficient engine Gripen NG will get substantially longer range and more time on station. The new drop-tanks are made by RUAG in Switzerland

Source: SAAB

Dr.Watson a écrit:

Il a de la chance dans son malheur ce pilote

Les chasseurs ne sont t'il pas capable d'attérir même avec un fort vent de travers ?

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Gripen : Saab propose une version navalisée

Début 2010, Saab a créé la surprise en présentant une version navalisée du Gripen. Cette nouveauté fait suite à une demande d'informations exprimée par l'Inde, qui va renouveler son parc d'avions embarqués avec l'arrivée de ses nouveaux porte-aéronefs, les Vikramaditya et Vikrant. Même si des MiG-29K ont été commandés pour équiper ces bâtiments, New Delhi a souhaité se renseigner sur d'autres appareils. Et Saab a profité de l'occasion pour ajouter une corde à l'arc du Gripen. L'avionneur suédois propose une version modifiée du Gripen NG. Le Sea Gripen pourrait être soit catapulté, soit utilisé à partir de porte-aéronefs dotés d'un tremplin. Le retour se ferait au moyen de brins d'arrêt. Saab fait valoir la petite taille du Sea Gripen, qui permettrait d'embarquer un groupe aérien plus important sur des plateformes aux dimensions réduites. Outre le MiG-29K, l'avion de Saab pourrait alors concurrencer le F-35 B, avec un prix d'achat moins élevé. Dans cette optique, des marines européennes comme l'Espagne ou l'Italie pourraient s'y intéresser. Certains experts doutent néanmoins qu'une version navalisée du Gripen puisse être développée sans consentir d'importants investissements sur la cellule pour la rendre apte à la mise en oeuvre sur porte-aéronefs. Saab, de son côté, rétorque que la structure de son avion, conçue dès l'origine pour être très résistante, permettrait d'obtenir à moindre frais une variante répondant aux contraintes de la navalisation.

http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=116586

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Good grades to Swedish Libya contribution


Sweden | 2011-08-05 | 1 comment

The first Swedish fighter jet mission abroad in 50 years gets good international grades. The Gripen jets are said to perform the most effective reconnaisance missions in the NATO coalition.



The fighter jets start and land at the base Sigonella in east Sicilia (Italy). A a distance of 600 km southwards, there is a bloody civil war in Libya. The Italian base hosts many countries' air force. There are fighter jets from Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Turkey, France, Canada, the United States and the United Arab Emirates. The common goal is to protect the civilian population of Libya against the attacks of the Gadaffi-loyal forces.

Swedish pilot: "Can feel the seriousness in the situation"

Just like the other fighter jets, the Gripen jets have very good reconnaisance equipment. From a height of 7,000 metres they can detect single individuals, both victims and perpetrators. This leaves a psychological mark on the pilots.

- We can feel the seriousness in this mission. I mean we are here to protect people down there who are suffering, says a Swedish pilot to Svenska Dagbladet.

When a Gripen jet comes back from a mission, a group of technicians thrown themselves into the plane to download all the digital photos who are shortly after analysed by specialists. Two hours after, the reconnaisance report is on the desk of the NATO high quarter.

The Swedes' efficiency and quality is appreciated:

- If there is a special target that NATO is interested in, they prefer the Swedes to perform the mission. This makes me a little bit proud, says the commander of the Swedish air force unit Fredrik Bergman to Svenska Dagbladet.

Lack of reconnaisance planes

The Swedish contribution of five planes amongst the 240 in the international mission in Libya may seem insignificant. But if we look at only the reconnaisance planes, Sweden represent a quarter and of the reconnaiance flights Sweden delivers 37 percent of the reports.

The continued fighting between the Gadaffi-forces and the rebels in large parts of nothern Libya means also a continued need for the Swedish reconnaisance reports. The lack of reconnaisance planes led to the British decision to send

stockholmnews

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Gripen E/F : l’excellence !

Voici la première partie d’une nouvelle série d’articles, concernant le choix par le Conseil Fédéral du nouvel avion de combat, le Gripen (Griffon) E/F. Le dossier étant en pleine évolution, je reviendrai notamment sur les offres de partenariat industriel (Offsets), ainsi que les évènements qui ont marqué la décision.

Cette première partie va me permettre de vous révéler certaines informations techniques qui n’ont jusqu’ici jamais été abordées. Elles font suite à mes recherches ainsi qu’à la possibilité que j’ai eu de me rendre en Suède chez Saab pour voir de près l’avion et obtenir de nombreux éclaircissements.

Les raisons du choix :

Les raisons du choix sont particulièrement complexes et tiennent compte d’une multitudes de paramètres et ceci contrairement à la croyance populaire. Le choix s’est fait suite à l’obtention de centaines d’informations vérifiées qui font suite à l’évaluation de 2008.

Je me permets ici de rappeler qu’aucun des trois standards d’avion proposés à notre pays ne sont actuellement en service. Le Gripen E/F dérivé du démonstrateur NG sera commandé ce printemps par la Suède. Le Rafale proposé, soit le F3-04T n’existe qu’à un seul exemplaire dont l’Armée de l’air recevra ses premiers modèles en 2013. L’Eurofighter DA7 série 3, proposé et en cours d’industrialisation mais ne pouvait être doté du radar AESA avant 2016.

La presse a avancé que le choix du Gripen pour notre pays était principalement financier. Ce n’est pas totalement juste, du moins très incomplet !

Effectivement, le prix proposé pour une dotation minimale de 22 appareils à 3,1 milliards est le meilleur prix des trois. Mais, il faut encore tenir compte des coûts d’utilisation, qui sont là encore, très inférieurs pour le Gripen. Cela permettra à terme deux options sur un budget annuel :

Economie des coûts sur le budget annuel pouvant être réinvestis dans la modernisation.
Augmentation des heures de vol à l’année sans modifier le budget.



Les avantages techniques du Gripen E/F :

Les trois appareils proposés à notre pays disposent d’une technologie équivalente et sont tous trois en constante évolution. Du côté de l’offre suédoise, certains points ont fait la différence !

Le radar AESA ES-05 «RAVEN» permet un balayage avec un débatement total de ± 100 ° qui offre la possibilité de voir vers l’arrière et d’engager directement les adversaires.

L’architecture électronique est au minimum 5x plus rapide en matière de calcul que ses concurrents.

Le cockpit, basé sur un écran géant (comme le F-35), offre la possibilité de personnalisation pour chaque pilote et l’adaptation immédiate en fonction de l’évolution de la mission (air-air, reco, air-sol).

Le moteur, General-Electrique GE F-414G, offrira 10,5 tonnes de poussées (avec mode SuperCruise).

Un équipement complet :

Concernant les équipements du Gripen E/F, ils sont très complets et prêts à l’industrialisation. Voici la liste standard de ceux-ci :

Avec le radar AESA ES-05 « Raven » couplé au système optique frontal IRST Skyward-G, le Gripen E/F dispose d’une liaison électronique Link16 à large bande, d’un système de communication satellitaire SATCOM et d’un fusion des données (Net Centric Warfare - NCW). Un nouveau système de guerre électronique avec détection des missiles en approche de type électro-optique EW39 qui fonctionne avec les lances-leurres Saab BOH/BOL de dernière génération (ADIS).

La fusion de données complètement intégrée au système d'arme permet la fusion des informations de la liaison 16 (pistes des équipiers, messages PPLI (Precise Participant Location and Identification) et relie l’ensemble aux pistes des capteurs internes et externes (RAVEN, IRST, EW39, pod ATFLIR.

Le pilote dispose d’une commande vocale, des classiques commandes HOTAS et d’un viseur de casque et d’un HUD large également de la nouvelle génération.

Enfin, un générateur d'oxygène embarqué (On-Board Oxygen Generation System, OBOGS) permet d’augmenter la teneur en oxygène de l'air prélevé au niveau d'un compresseur du moteur, afin, qu'il soit fourni directement aux pilotes. Avec l'OBOGS, la production d'oxygène est quasiment infinie et facilite la logistique : pas de production au sol, ni de chargement et d'installation des bouteilles à bord.

Le siège éjectable Matin-Baker dispose de deux airbag latéraux pour protéger le pilote en cas d’éjection.

En matière d’armement, le Gripen E/F offre un vaste choix international :

Air-Air :

Missiles courte portée à guidage infrarouge couplé avec viseur de casque SRAAM (Sort Range Air to Air Missile):

IRIS-T, AIM-9X, A-DARTER, Python 5

Missiles longue portée BVRAAM (Beyond Visual Range Air to Air Missile) :

AIM-120C7 AMRAAM, DERBY, METEOR.

Air-Sol :

Missiles :

Maverick, RBS-15, TAURUS (missile de croisière).

Bombes à guidages laser de type « Paveway », modèles : GBU 10/12/16/24/27/28.

Nacelles : Reco et ATFLIR, Nite-Hawk, SNIPER.

Optimisation pour les drones :

Saab fait partie du groupe de travail mené par Dassault Aviation dans le cadre du drone de démonstration NEURON. Le constructeur suédois, comme son homologue français avec le Rafale, a optimisé l'avenir de son avion de combat Gripen E/F en vue d'une utilisation future en binôme avec le futur drone de combat européen.

Questions fréquements posées :

Une nouvelle affaire "Mirage" pourrait-elle se reproduire avec le Gripen ?

En aucun cas, les surcoûts engendrés lors de l'achat des Mirage III étaient dûs à de nombreuses modifications (radar, armement, cockpit, cellule) voulues par la Suisse. Dans le cas du Gripen E/F, le modèle pour notre pays sera exactement le même que celui qui équipera la force aérienne suédoise.

En cas de retard qui paiera ?

Saab Aerospace s'est engagé à prendre en charge les éventuels surcoûts d'industrialisation à 100%.

Quelles sont les risques de maladies de jeunesse ?

Les risques sont faibles, car l'ensemble des systèmes fonctionnent et ont fait leurs preuves durant les essais du démonstrateur Gripen NG.

Le développement du Gripen va-t-il s'arrêter une fois les livraisons effectuées à la Suisse ?

Non, le programme Gripen va continuer d'évoluer, il est garantit jusqu'en 2040. la Suisse aura d’ailleurs de nombreuses cartes à jouer en matière de recherche & développement dans le cadre du programme de partenariat avec la Suède.

Commentaires :

Le Gripen n’est en rien un appareil inférieur techniquement. Certes, la gamme du constructeur suédois est plus modeste en ce qui concerne l’emport de charges avec 10 points d’attaches contre 14 à ses concurrents. Le rayon d’action est également sensiblement plus court d’environ 400 km, mais l’avion permet le ravitaillement en vol. Il est optimisé pour le dégagement sur des aérodromes secondaires et l’emploi sur autoroutes. Ce même concept permettant de limiter les pertes lors d’attaques, notamment le sabotage d’aérodrome par des terroristes.

Aujourd’hui, nous avons sur le vieux continent une chance extraordinaire d’avoir trois appareils d’excellente valeur en développement continu, Gripen E/F, Rafale, Eurofighter. Hormis Quelques différences, l’Europe peut répondre comme jamais à la demande de divers clients et de leurs spécificités. L’Inde, de part sa situation géopolitique avec son voisin, a préféré un appareil pouvant répondre en matière d’attaque lourde en profondeur. Notre pays n’a pas ce besoin extrême, heureusement d’ailleurs, mais va pouvoir assumer son rôles en matière de surveillance, détection et poursuite de cibles, reconnaissance et attaque au sol tactique en travaillant en collaboration avec ses voisins, dans un cadre moderne et évolutif.

A suivre : le détail de la commande, les Offsets, les conclusions de la sous-commissions d’enquête, le lancement de la fabrication en chaîne.

http://psk.blog.24heures.ch/archive/2012/02/07/4c91ca5abb1a99f9ed0db705d09d42cd.html

Yakuza a écrit:

je vois pas l´IRST sur le F Rafi ou s´agit il la de D

Voilà comment reconnaitre un Gripen F et le distinguer du D:
Sur la photo de l'article posté par rafi:


C'est le reservoir interne élargi que j'ai entouré en rouge.

Comparez maintenant avec le D Tchèque.

effectivement,la en gros on voit les differences(bay du train entre autres)



la on peut voir plus de details,le IRST viendra s´jouter aussi,avec ce que le bresil pourrait installer s´il le remporte

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Selex Galileo develps AESA radar for Gripen aircraft


Edinburgh, United Kingdom - Ready for the Swiss Gripen order


(WAPA) - International press agencies reported that Selex Galileo (an Italian hi-tech subsidiary of Finmeccanica) will deliver soon a new version of its Raven ES-05 AESA radar, which is conceived to equip the Saab Gripen fighter aircraft.

Currently in the final stages of testing at the Finmeccanica company's Edinburgh site in Scotland, the radar will be displayed along with the Gripen at July's Farnborough air show. The upgraded aircraft is going to be used as a prototype for the next generation of Gripen fighters.

"We will begin developmental test flights after Farnborough", says Bob Mason, Selex Galileo's senior vice-president marketing and sales. He also added the radar developer has a strong business case linked to the Raven.

The Gripen (Saab JAS-39) is a lightweight single-engine multi-role fighter. The aircraft entered service in 1997 after early problems with its avionics, during which a prototype was lost.

Mason said this new market "It will be much more substantial than the 22 aircraft for the Swiss". In fact, the Swiss Air Force selected the Gripen last year for its fleet, declaring that "The fighter is more than enough to defend our country".

As a consequence, Selex Galileo is ready to supply AESA radar for any Gripen Saab will sell worldwide.

(Avionews)

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Gripen Sees Brazilian Fighter Decision Soon

June 01, 2012
LINKOPING, Sweden — After years of delay, Gripen International believes Brazil is nearly ready to make a decision in its fighter competition, in which the company’s single-engine fighter is in competition against the Boeing F/A-18E/F and Dassault Rafale.

“We get the feeling it is the endgame,” notes Eddy de La Motte, vice president for marketing for Gripen International, the joint venture of Saab and BAE Systems that markets the Swedish fighter to export customers.

Saab could deliver the first Gripen E/F (also called the NG) fighter four years after contract award, but it is still unclear if that is the schedule Brasilia will insist on or whether it will join the combined Swiss/Swedish Gripen E/F development schedule, which would see the first fighter handed over in 2018.

The first Gripen E/F prototype is due to fly late next year if the Swiss and Swedish governments can agree on the development path forward. The effort would likely require some Saab funding too.

Meanwhile, the Selex Galileo Raven ES-05 active, electronically scanned array radar is to fly on the Gripen NG demonstrator soon, during which time the cockpit displays and sensor will be put through their paces.

The Swedish government has an offer on the table to potential export buyers to accelerate its purchase if another country wants the Gripen E/F early, but does not want to be the lead buyer. That offer remains on the table, de La Motte says.

A win in Brazil could open the door to other fighter deals in South America, adds Frederik Gustafson, regional director for Gripen exports in the Americas. “There is a huge need for new fighters in the region and the economies are growing,” he tells reporters on the sidelines of Aerospace Forum Sweden 2012. There are more than a handful of countries that are looking to buy in the next five years, he adds.

But that is not the only region where the manufacturer is working to meet its target of selling 300 fighters over the next decade. In Thailand, where it has already sold 12 Gripens (six are delivered and six will follow next year), it hopes for additional deals. Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and, “in a couple of years,” Vietnam may be opportunities, de La Motte says.

Efforts also continue to extend the fighter lease deal with the Czech Republic and secure orders in places such as Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and Slovakia. Gripen also still hopes to convince Denmark and the Netherlands to defect from the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter program to which they are committed.

.aviationweek

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Bigger, Better And Not The Same At All



The Swedish Air Force recently got the go-ahead to build prototypes of the new JAS 39E Gripen fighter. This happened mainly because Switzerland has agreed to buy it. The Swedish Air Force hopes this will persuade their own government to buy some of these aircraft. Formerly known as the Gripen NG (Next Generation) fighters, the JAS 39E will be heavier (17 tons), have better electronics, a heavier payload (over four tons), and be a two seater version better able to handle ground attack and electronic warfare duties. The Swedish Air Force already has 120 JAS 39C Gripens in service and the prospect of more defense budget cuts made the purchase of 60 Gripen NGs (at a total cost of nearly $5 billion) seemingly impossible. But the JAS 39E excited several export customers and that made all the difference.

Sweden is describing the 39E as a "new aircraft" compared to the earlier JAS 39 models. There's some truth to that, as the 39E is a little longer and heavier, but still looks like a Gripen, The 39E is full of more expensive, and capable, electronics, but that's not obvious by just looking at the new model. The first 39E is expected to fly next year and enter service in 2018.

The Gripen has already undergone one major enhancement to the JAS 39C model. Improvements included inflight refueling, better electronics, and improved ground attack capability. The C model was also compliant with NATO standards for warplanes. This was necessary for export sales. There was also a two seat D model for training.

The 14 ton JAS-39C is roughly comparable to the latest versions of the F-16. The Gripen is small but can carry up to 3.6 tons of weapons. With the increasing use of smart bombs this is adequate. Often regarded as an also-ran in the current crop of "modern jet fighters", the Swedish Gripen is proving to be more competition than the major players (the F-16, F-18, F-35, Eurofighter, Rafale, MiG-29, and Su-27) expected. Put simply, Gripen does a lot of little (but important) things right and costs about half as much (at about $35 million each) as its major competitors. More importantly, Gripen also costs about half as much, per flight hour, to operate. In effect, Gripen provides the ruggedness and low cost of Russian aircraft with the high quality and reliability of Western aircraft. For many nations this is an appealing combination. The Gripen is easy to use (both for pilots and ground crews) and capable of doing all jet fighter jobs (air defense, ground support, and reconnaissance) well enough.

The JAS 39 entered active service in 1997 and has had an uphill battle getting export sales. Sweden does not have the diplomatic clout of its major competitors, so they have to push quality and service. Swedish warplanes and products in general have an excellent reputation in both categories. Nevertheless, the Gripen is still expected to lose out on a lot of sales simply because politics took precedence over performance.

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htairfo/articles/20120627.aspx

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Saab Signs Support and Development Agreement with FMV for Gripen






14:17 GMT, June 29, 2012 Saab has received four orders from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, FMV, for Gripen development, support and maintenance through 2016. The orders entails an initial order of SEK 3,6 billion* plus options for additional orders amounting to a maximum of SEK 2 billion until December 2016.

The agreement includes several parts: A performance-based support and maintenance solution, performance-based logistics as well associated ground resources for upkeep. Also included is an addition to Gripen development package (MS20) as well as studies and definition activities for further Gripen development.

"Gripen has already proven its growth potential by carrying out different mission task that it was not initially intended for, like last summers operation Unified Protector in Libya," says Lennart Sindahl, head of Saab's business area Aeronautics. "It is therefore important for the future that we can continue to add new capabilities by request from FMV to a flight system that has already proven to be of world class today."

Performance-based logistics entails that Saab provides guaranteed service times for systems and subsystems that are included in Gripen. Activities included in the contract are for example, supplying the Swedish Armed Forces with spare parts, maintenance of aircraft systems, technical engineering support, technical publications and logistics solutions for operation of the Gripen system in Sweden, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Thailand. Saab has previously had several different support agreements for Gripen, all of which are now replaced by this long-term contract.

“This long-term contract enables Saab to conduct support operations in a more effective manner, compared to previous agreements," says Lars-Erik Wige, head of Saab's Support and Services business area. "Efficiency and availability are key words."

The orders that are placed under the options included in the agreement will be placed once a year. The options encompass support and maintenance operations that are decisive to running aviation operations with Gripen, such as technical publications and repairs.
The work will mainly take place at Saab's facilities in Linköping, Arboga, Järfälla and Gothenburg, Sweden.

defpro

Citation :

Gripen operational cost lowest of all western fighters: Jane’s

The study conducted by IHS Jane's Aerospace and Defense Consulting, compared the operational costs of the Gripen, Lockheed Martin F-16, Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, Dassault’s Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon and the F-35 aircraft.





The operational cost of the Swedish Saab Gripen aircraft is the lowest among a flightline of modern fighters, confirmed a White Paper submitted by the respected international defense publishing group IHS Jane’s, in response to a study commissioned by Saab.

The paper says that in terms of ‘fuel used, pre-flight preparation and repair, and scheduled airfield-level maintenance together with associated personnel costs’, “The Saab Gripen is the least expensive of the aircraft under study in terms of cost per flight hour (CPFH).”

The study, conducted by Edward Hunt, Senior Consultant, at IHS Jane’s Aerospace and Defense Consulting, compared the operational costs of the Gripen, Lockheed Martin F-16, Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, Dassault’s Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon and the F-35 aircraft.

“At an estimated $4,700 per hour (2012 USD), the Gripen compares very favorably with the Block 40 / 50 F-16s which are its closest competitor at an estimated $7,000 per hour,” says the report, adding, “The F-35 and twin-engined designs are all significantly more expensive per flight hour owing to their larger size, heavier fuel usage and increased number of airframe and systems parts to be maintained and repaired. IHS Jane’s believes that aircraft unit cost and size is therefore roughly indicative of comparative CPFH.”

In comparison, the figure for the F/A-18 Super Hornet ranged from USD 11000 to USD 24000, depending on degree of operational capability. The figure for the Rafale was USD 16500 per flying hour and number for the Eurofighter Typhoon, derived from British Parliamentary figures and seeming to cover only fuel usage, was USD 8200. But Jane’s estimate of the actual Cost Per Flying Hour for the Eurofighter, keeping in mind supplies and scheduled maintenance raised the figure up to USD 18000.

The cost of operation of the F-35 appears to be in a whole other league. Jane’s cites Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) estimates for the conventional F-35 A, assuming operational service over 30 years with 200 hours per year for each aircraft, to amount to USD 21000 per hour of flight. The paper also sources US Navy projections of the cost of operation of the F-35 B & C variants until the year 2029, which come to USD 31000 per flight hour.

The report says the figures were based on data sourced from the respective operating militaries and governments, disclosed international fighter competition cost figures (Rafale, F-18 E / F, Gripen), manufacturer-stated figures (F-35, Rafale, F-18 E / F, Gripen) and IHS Jane’s estimates for all aircraft.

There are several caveats to this assessment. “Owing to the differing methods of calculating aircraft operating cost per flight hour and the large number of interlinked factors that affect such a calculation, IHS Jane’s believes that any flight hour cost figure can only be regarded as indicative and that there is no single correct answer to such a calculation,” says the report, but adds, “However, we believe that our results are of considerable merit and provide a useful benchmark when considering the costs associated with operating contemporary high performance combat aircraft.”

The report stresses that ‘without access to comprehensive military data over a significant timeframe’ the results ‘can only be regarded as approximate’ and ‘are an average cost across an entire fleet’.

The report says it is most confident about the data and its conclusions on the Gripen, F-16 and the F/A-18 ‘with good primary and secondary source data supported by logical results from our deductive modeling.’

The numbers for the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Rafale are less certain, in comparison, but the report submits that ‘the comparative modeling output appears to confirm IHS Jane’s estimates’ for them.

The report is least sure about the operational cost of the F-35 costs ‘owing to the absence of actual in-service data’. “IHS Jane’s does not feel that the modeled fuel cost figure is representative of likely CPFH costs,” it says.

Besides using primary and secondary sources and their own databases, IHS Jane’s also considered data thrown up by a ‘modelled assessment of relative cost based on fuel usage’. In the absence of a single global standard for calculating cost per flight hour IHS Jane’s arrived upon a list of factors which would determine this cost.

stratpost

Le Gripen F vole avec son radar ES-05 «Raven» de type AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Area)...

Citation :

Saab Takes Next Step In Fighter Development

August 13, 2012
Bill Sweetman Washington

Sweden's slow but determined entry onto the world fighter stage is taking another step forward. At the same time, Saab is talking more in public about networked air combat capabilities that rest on decades of experience, much of which was long kept secret.

Saab and the Swedish and South African air forces are moving to establish a new Fighter Weapons School at the SAAF's Overberg base, in the southern Cape area, to develop advanced combat skills within the growing world community of Gripen pilots. The first class is due to open in October 2013.

In announcing the FWS, the company discussed its concept of networked tactics for the new JAS 39E/F fighter. Ultimately, Overberg's expansive ranges could provide an ideal environment for this technology.

A former site for secret South African/Israeli missile tests, Overberg hosts the SAAF's test squadron and was chosen because it offers access to maritime, desert and high-elevation training areas, live ordnance areas and instrumented ranges with land targets. According to Saab South Africa President Magnus Lewis-Olsson, the goal is “to make good pilots great,” and the FWS will specialize in providing advanced skills to midcareer pilots who can then teach those skills to their own air forces.

The school will initially offer one focused two-month course per year, with possible topics including the use of targeting pods or helmet-mounted displays. It is expected that one or two pilots from each operator nation will attend, and although the first courses will be led by Swedish or South African pilots, it is expected that later courses will be planned by FWS graduates, who will also form the instructor pool.

The SAAF will provide the school with between four and six JAS 39C/D Gripens, plus aggressors (opposition aircraft) and targets if necessary, and each student will fly 20 day and night sorties. Discussions with other Gripen operators have already started. Airborne early warning and control aircraft or tankers could be added later.

The Overberg project starts modestly by world fighter training standards, but is an important step for Sweden, which with its traditions of neutrality had engaged in no international exercises or training before joining the 2006 Cope Thunder exercise in Alaska. It is also intended to strengthen links among the five air forces operating the Gripen—Sweden, South Africa, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Thailand.

Saab has unveiled its concept of “wide spectrum combat” (Wiscom) to exploit the potential of the next-generation JAS 39E/F and C/D Plus, the latter being a C/D retrofitted with E/F avionics and sensors.

One part of the Wiscom concept is the idea of a “flexible antenna pool” in which all aircraft in a flight share sensor and target data automatically. Another is “silent swarm ingress” where a flight enters combat in a widely dispersed pattern, with primary sensors being infrared search and track (IRST), active, electronically scanned array (AESA) radars operating in passive mode, and electronic surveillance measures (ESM).

Under Wiscom, AESA transmissions are restricted and “random”—that is, the aircraft in a flight will transmit at different times, making it difficult to track them by emissions. Swedish engineers have noted that data-linked radars can share plots—not just tracks—and take simultaneous range-rate measurements, allowing two radars to determine a target's velocity almost instantly. Finally, Saab envisages the use of the high-energy MBDA Meteor air-to-air missile to engage from side and rear aspects where targets are less likely to detect the threat.

For air-to-surface missions, Saab is studying an improved RBS 15ER (extended range) version of its own cruise missile with improved land-attack capability. In maritime attack, Wiscom tactics would allow a flight of Gripens to assess the target formation and launch up to two missiles each from different directions with simultaneous arrival times, saturating the target's ability to defend itself.

While other fighter programs claim the ability to use real-time networked tactics, Wiscom is not entirely new, but an extension of Swedish technology developed since the 1960s, when data links were introduced secretly to bypass Soviet communications jamming. The first two-way aircraft-to-aircraft fighter link was deployed on the JA 37 Viggen in the 1980s. It was disclosed after the Viggen was retired in 2005 that it was capable of a “silent” AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile attack, performed by two aircraft using their PS 46/A radars in passive mode.

The original Tactical Information Data Link System (Tidls) fitted to the JAS 39A/B was designed to display the position, bearing and speed of all four aircraft in a formation, including basic status information such as fuel and weapons status. Tidls information, along with radar, EW and mapping data, appears on the central multi-function display. Detailed symbols distinguish between friendlies, hostiles and unidentified targets and show which member of the flight has targeted each hostile. Wiscom blends this capability with AESA, IRST and improved electronic support measures.

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