JAS 39 Gripen

JAS 39 Gripen
Swedish JAS-39 Gripen landing.jpg
A Swedish Air Force JAS 39 at an exercise in Bulgaria, 2003.
Role Multirole fighter
Manufacturer Saab
First flight 9 December 1988
Introduction 9 June 1996
Status Active service
Primary users Swedish Air Force
Czech Air Force
Hungarian Air Force
South African Air Force
Number built 213 as of December 2008[1][2]
Unit cost US$40-61 million (export price VAT excluded)[3][4]

The Saab JAS 39 Gripen (English: Griffin) is a 4.5 generation fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace company Saab. Gripen International acts as a prime contracting organisation and is responsible for marketing, selling and supporting the Gripen fighter around the world.

The aircraft is in service with the Swedish Air Force, the Czech Air Force, the Hungarian Air Force and the South African Air Force, and has been ordered by the Royal Thai Air Force. A total of 236 Gripens have been ordered as of 2008.[5]

Contents

Development

By the late 1970s a replacement for Sweden's ageing Saab 35 Drakens and Saab 37 Viggens was needed.[6] A new fighter was being considered by 1979,[7] with design studies beginning the following year.[6] The development of the Gripen began in 1982 with approval from Swedish Parliament.[8]

The Gripen was designed for performance, flexibility, effectiveness and survivability in air combat. The designation JAS stands for Jakt (Air-to-Air), Attack (Air-to-Surface), and Spaning (Reconnaissance), indicating that the Gripen is a multirole or swingrole fighter aircraft that can fulfill each mission type. The JAS 39 got its name Gripen through a public competition in 1982.[9] The griffin is the heraldry on Saab's logo and suited the multirole characteristics of the aircraft. Furthermore, the griffin is the symbolic animal on the coat of arms of Östergötland, the province in which Saab AB is headquartered (Linköping).

Sweden chose to develop the Gripen rather than purchase a variant of the F-16, F/A-18A/B, or the "F-5S" version of the Northrop F-20 Tigershark.

Empire Test Pilots' School Saab JAS 39B Gripen taxis after landing at RIAT 2008, England.

The first Gripen was rolled out on 26 April 1987, marking Saab's fiftieth anniversary.[10] The first prototype first flew on 9 December 1988.[11]

On the 26 November 2008, the final aircraft of the latest 64 jet Batch 3 contract was delivered to FMV.[1] This was accomplished at a 10% less than agreed price for the whole batch putting the Gripen 39C fly-away price at under USD 30 million.

Teaming agreements

In 1995, Saab Military Aircraft and British Aerospace or BAe (now BAE Systems) formed the joint venture company Saab-BAe Gripen AB, with the goal of adapting, manufacturing, marketing and supporting Gripen internationally. The deal was to take advantage of BAe's global marketing experience. BAe also saw the Gripen as a complementary product to its existing aircraft, fitting between its Hawk light attack/trainer and the larger Tornado and Typhoon fighters. This cooperation was extended in 2001 with the formation of Gripen International for the same purpose. In December 2004, Saab and BAE Systems agreed that from January 2005 Saab would take full responsibility for marketing of the Gripen in light of Saab's increased export marketing capabilities.

On 26 April 2007, Norway signed an agreement on a joint development programme of the aircraft regarding co-operation in advanced development work on future versions of the aircraft. The value of the deal, which will allow Norwegian companies to take part, is about NOK 150 million over two years.[12]

In June 2007, Thales Norway A/S and Saab signed a contract concerning the development of communications systems for the Gripen fighter. This order for the Norwegian company is the first to be awarded under the provisions of the Letter of Agreement signed by the Norwegian Ministry of Defence and Gripen International in April 2007.[12]

As part of Gripen International's marketing efforts in Denmark, a deal was signed in December 2007 with Danish technology supplier Terma A/S which allows them to participate in an industrial co-operation programme over the next 10-15 years. The total value of the programme is estimated at over DKK 10 billion, and is partly dependent on Denmark choosing the Gripen.[13]

Gripen NG

A two-seat "New Technology Demonstrator" has been built,[14] and was presented on 23 April 2008. It has increased fuel capacity, a more powerful powerplant, increased payload capacity, upgraded avionics and other improvements. The new aircraft is also referred to as the "Gripen Demo".[15][16]

The new Gripen NG (Next Generation) will have many new parts and will be powered by the GE/Volvo Aero F414G, a development of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet's engine. The engine will produce 20% more thrust at 98 kN (22,000 lbf), enabling a supercruise speed of Mach 1.1 with air-to-air missiles.[17]

Compared to the Gripen D, the Gripen NG's max takeoff weight has increased from 14,000 to 16,000 kg (30,900-35,300 lb) with an increase in empty weight of 200 kg (440 lb). Due to relocated main landing gear, the internal fuel capacity has increased by 40%, which will increase ferry range to 4,070 km (2,200 nmi). The new undercarriage configuration also allows for the addition of two heavy stores pylons to the fuselage. Its PS-05/A sensor adds a new active electronically scanned array (AESA) antenna for flight testing beginning in mid-2009.[17]

Gripen Demo's maiden flight was conducted on 27 May 2008. The test flight took about 30 minutes and reached a maximum altitude of about 6,400 meters.[18]

Design

Farnborough Airshow 2006.

In designing the aircraft, several layouts were studied. Saab ultimately selected an unstable canard design. The canard configuration gives a high onset of pitch rate and low drag, enabling the aircraft to be faster, have longer range and carry a larger payload.

The combination of delta wing and canards gives the Gripen significantly better takeoff and landing performance and flying characteristics. The totally integrated avionics make it a "programmable" aircraft. It also has a built-in electronic warfare unit, making it possible to load more ordnance onto the aircraft without losing self defence capabilities.

The Gripen affords more flexibility than earlier generations of combat aircraft used by Sweden, and its operating costs are about two thirds of those for JA 37 Viggen.

In the Swedish Air Force's list of requirements was the ability to operate from 800 m runways. Early on in the programme, all flights from Saab's facility in Linköping were flown from within a 9 m × 800 m outline painted on the runway. Stopping distance was reduced by extending the relatively large air brakes; using the control surfaces to push the aircraft down, enabling the wheel brakes to apply more force and tilting the canards forwards, making them into large air brakes and further pushing the aircraft down.

Radar

Main article: PS-05/A

The Gripen uses the modern PS-05/A pulse-doppler X-band radar, developed by Ericsson and GEC-Marconi, and based on the latter's advanced Blue Vixen radar for the Sea Harrier (which inspired the Eurofighter's CAPTOR radar as well).[19]

The radar is capable of detecting, locating, identifying and automatically tracking multiple targets in the upper and lower spheres, on the ground and sea or in the air, in all weather conditions. It can guide four air to air missiles (e.g. AIM-120 AMRAAM, MBDA MICA) simultaneously at four different targets.[20]

Cockpit

The cockpit has three full colour head down displays and digital emergency instrument presentation unique to the aircraft. The cockpit layout provides a human-machine interface that eases pilot workload substantially and increases situational awareness, but still provides substantial future growth potential. The pilot flies the aircraft by means of a centre stick and left hand throttles.

The cockpit provides a display area some 30 per cent larger than that available in most other fighters, with the multi-function displays taking up around 75 per cent of available space.

It is dominated by three large (15.7 x 21 cm) active-matrix, liquid crystal, multi-function displays and a wide angle (20 x 28 degree) head-up display (HUD). The displays are equipped with light sensors for computer assisted brightness and contrast control.

Expeditionary capabilities

One interesting feature is the Gripen's ability to take off and land on public roads, which was part of Sweden's war defence strategy. The aircraft is designed to be able to operate also if the air force does not have air superiority.

During the Cold war, the Swedish Armed Forces were preparing to defend against a possible invasion from the Soviet Union. Even though the defensive strategy in principle called for an absolute defence of Swedish territory, military planners calculated that Swedish defence forces could eventually be overrun. For that reason, Sweden had military stores dispersed all over the country, in order to maintain the capacity of inflicting damage on the enemy even if military installations were lost.

Accordingly, among the requirements from the Swedish Air Force was that the Gripen fighter should be able to land on public roads near military stores for quick maintenance, and take off again. As a result, the Gripen fighter can be refueled and re-armed in ten minutes by a five man mobile ground crew operating out of a truck, and then resume flying sorties.[21]

In the post-Cold War era, these dispersed operation capabilities have proved to be of great value for a different purpose. The Gripen fighter system is expeditionary in nature, and therefore well suited for peace-keeping missions worldwide, which has become the new main task of the Swedish Armed Forces.

Operational history

Current operators

The Gripen is in operational service with the Swedish Air Force, which has ordered 204 aircraft (including 28 two-seaters).[22]

The Czech Air Force and the Hungarian Air Force also operate the Gripen, and currently lease 14 Swedish Air Force aircraft each, with the option of eventually acquiring them. In both cases two of the aircraft are two-seaters. The Czech and the Hungarian Air Force are the first Gripen operators within NATO.[23][24]

Deliveries to the South African Air Force (26 aircraft, including nine two-seaters) commenced in April 2008,[25] and are ongoing.[2] Gripen has also been ordered by the Royal Thai Air Force (six aircraft, four of them two-seaters).[26]

The British based Empire Test Pilots' School (ETPS) is operating Gripen as its advanced fast jet platform for test pilots worldwide.

Potential and future operators

Brazil

In October 2008, it was reported that the Brazilian Air Force had selected three finalists in their F-X2 program. They are Dassault Rafale, Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and Gripen NG,[27][28] and the number of aircraft involved are said to be anywhere between 36 and 120. The decision should be made early 2009.

Croatia

The Croatian Air Force has announced plans to replace their MiG-21 bis aircraft, possibly with either the JAS 39 Gripen or the F-16 Falcon.[29] The final projection calls for 12-18 aircraft. On 27 March 2008, the Swedish Defence Material Administration and Saab responded to Croatia's request for information regarding the procurement of twelve aircraft.[30][31] Due to economic and political reasons, the Croatian Air Force is not expected to make a decision before 2010.[32]

Denmark

Denmark has signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Defence Ministers of Sweden and Denmark to evaluate the Gripen, pending Denmark's future replacement of their fleet of 48 F-16s. Denmark has also requested for the new variants of Gripens to be developed. It will include the package of new avionics, a larger and more powerful engine, larger payload and, most importantly, longer range.[13]

India

India is evaluating the Gripen for its tender for 126 multi-role combat aircraft. Gripen International handed over its proposal on 28 April 2008. The company is offering the Gripen IN, a version of the Gripen NG for India's tender.[33]

Netherlands

On 7 July 2008 Dagens Industri reported that the Netherlands announced they will evaluate JAS 39 Gripen Next Generation together with four other competitors and announce the result in the end of 2008.[34] Saab responded on 25 August 2008 to a 'Replacement Questionnaire' issued by the Dutch Ministry of Defence, offering 85 aircraft to the Royal Netherlands Air Force.[35] The Netherlands is evaluating the Gripen NG against the F-35.[36]

Switzerland

On 17 January 2008 the Swiss Defence Material Administration invited Gripen International to submit initial bids for supplying the Gripen as a replacement for their old F-5s.[37] Saab responded with a proposal on 2 July 2008. The exact number of aircraft has not been disclosed.[38]

Others

Bulgaria announced that they are to replace their 20 Mikoyan MiG-29s with possible 16 JAS 39C/D Gripens,[39] or 16 used F-16s. The process is to be completed around 2010.

The Romanian Air Force has announced that they will replace their MiG-21 LanceR aircraft beginning in 2008, possibly with JAS 39 Gripen, F-16 Fighting Falcon or Eurofighter Typhoon.[40][41]

On 18 January 2008 the Norwegian Ministry of Defence issued a Request for Binding Information (RBI) to the Swedish Defence Material Administration,[42] who responded on 28 April 2008 with a proposal offering 48 aircraft.[43] However, on 20 November 2008 the Norwegian government released a statement that they have selected F-35s for the Norwegian Air Force.[44]

Other nations that are showing interest in the Gripen include Slovakia.[45][46]

Variants

JAS 39 Gripen taxiing in after display, Farnborough 2006.
JAS 39A
Fighter version that first entered service with the Swedish Air Force in 1996. A modification program has started and 31 of these will be upgraded to C/D standard.[47]
JAS 39B
Two-seat version of the A variant. This variant is 2 feet 2 inches longer than the single seat version.
JAS 39C
NATO-compatible version of Gripen with extended capabilities in terms of armament, electronics, etc. This variant can also be refueled in flight.
JAS 39D
Two-seat version of the C variant.
Gripen Demo
A two-seat technology demonstrator for improvements slated for the Gripen NG.
Gripen NG
(Next Generation) Proposed version with new engine (GE/Volvo Aero F414G), increased fuel capacity, higher payload, upgraded avionics and other improvements.

Operators

Gripen users in red, orders in green and potential buyers in blue.
JAS 39 Gripen of Empire Test Pilots' School, Farnborough 2006.
JAS 39 Gripen of the Hungarian Air Force, Kecskemét open day, 2007 (landing).

Current operators

Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic
Czech Air Force: 14 Gripens on lease, including 2 two-seaters.
Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary
Hungarian Air Force: 14 Gripens on a lease-and-buy arrangement, including 2 two-seaters (C/D versions). The final three aircraft were delivered in December 2007.[48]
Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa
South African Air Force: 26 aircraft ordered (down from 28), nine two-seater Ds and 17 single seat Cs.[49] The first delivery, a two-seater, took place on 30 April 2008.[25][50] As of 1 December 2008, five aircraft have been delivered.[2]
Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden
Swedish Air Force: 204 aircraft originally ordered, including 28 two-seaters (138 in service). Sweden leases 28 of the aircraft, including four two-seaters, to the Czech and Hungarian Air Forces. In 2007 the Swedish government decided that the future Swedish Air Force will deploy no more than 100 JAS 39C/D Gripen fighters.[51] A program to upgrade 31 of the air force's JAS 39A/B fighters to JAS 39C/Ds was started.[52]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Empire Test Pilots' School: Under the current agreement, ETPS instructor pilots and students undergo simulator training with the Swedish Air Force, and go on to fly the two-seater Gripen at Saab in Linköping, in two training campaigns per year (spring and autumn). The agreement was renewed in 2008.[53]

Orders

Flag of Thailand.svg Thailand
The Royal Thai Air Force: Six aircraft, four of them two-seaters,[54] have been ordered for delivery in 2011, with a potential additional six at a later date.[55][56][57][58] The Gripens will replace the 12 F-5B/Es at Surat Thani Airbase.[59]

Incidents

Main article: Accidents and incidents involving the JAS 39 Gripen

Five Gripens have crashed causing only minor injuries; one prototype, one production aircraft and three in service with the Swedish Air Force.

Specifications (JAS 39)

Data from Gripen data (official), [60] Gripen to Brazil data (official),[61] Superfighters,[62] Czech Republic page.[63] Gripen weapons,[64] Great Book,[65] Fuel chart.[66]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

Gallery

See also

Comparable aircraft

Related lists

References

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 (Swedish) "Stark milstolpe av Gripenprojektet" (Strong milestone by the Gripen project), FMV (Swedish Defence Materiel Administration), 27 November 2008.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Fifth Gripen advanced fighter delivered to South Africa", Gripen International, 1 December 2008.
  3. ↑ "Sticker Shock: Estimating the Real Cost of Modern Fighter Aircraft", defense-aerospace.com, 2006, p. 2.
  4. ↑ Tran, Pierre. "Buy Now, Save a Bundle on the F-35", Defense News, 15 July 2008.
  5. ↑ "The Gripen Fighter Aircraft", Gripen International.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Frawley 2002, p. 147.
  7. ↑ Spick 2000.
  8. ↑ "Gripen − The Story So Far", Gripen International.
  9. ↑ "Gripen − Milestones", FMV (Swedish Defence Materiel Administration).
  10. ↑ Winchester 2004, p. 216.
  11. ↑ Williams 2003, p. 73.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Gripen agreement in Norway", Gripen International, 26 April 2007.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Saab offers Danish industry great opportunities", Gripen International, 4 December 2007.
  14. ↑ "Gripen Demo − Trail-blazing the future", Gripen International, 19 June 2007.
  15. ↑ Hoyle, Craig. "Saab reveals Gripen Demo aircraft", Flightglobal.com, 23 April 2008.
  16. ↑ "Gripen Demonstrator – The Future has Arrived!", Gripen International, 23 April 2008.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Hoyle, Craig. "Saab's Demo aircraft to highlight Gripen NG capabilities", Flightglobal.com, 25 April 2008.
  18. ↑ "Gripen Demo makes its maiden flight", Gripen International, 27 May 2007.
  19. ↑ Lake 2008, p. 2.
  20. ↑ "The SAAB JAS 39 Gripen", vectorsite.net, 1 October 2007.
  21. ↑ "Tailor-made for the modern defense budget", Gripen International.
  22. ↑ Swedish military aviation OrBat
  23. ↑ Czech military aviation OrBat
  24. ↑ Hungarian military aviation OrBat
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Hoyle, Craig. "South Africa fields first Gripen fighter", Flightglobal.com, 8 May 2008.
  26. ↑ Thai military aviation OrBat
  27. ↑ "Gripen NG shortlisted in Brazil", Gripen International, 2 October 2008.
  28. ↑ Trimble, Stephen. "Brazil names three finalists for F-X2 contract, rejects three others", Flight International, 6 October 2008.
  29. ↑ "Agreement signed ... ", Croatian Ministry of Defence On-line, 1 February 2007.
  30. ↑ "Gripen answer to Croatian request", Gripen International, 9 April 2008.
  31. ↑ Kucic, Dino. "Saab details Gripen proposal to Croatia", Flightglobal.com, 17 April 2008.
  32. ↑ http://www.militarium.eu/article.aspx?ID=104 (Croatian)
  33. ↑ "Gripen next generation fighter for India - The Independent Choice", Gripen International, 28 April 2008.
  34. ↑ (Swedish) "Holland utvärderar Gripen" (Holland evaluates Gripen), Dagens Industri, 7 July 2008.
  35. ↑ "The Netherlands shows interest in Gripen", Gripen International, 25 August 2008.
  36. ↑ Trimble, Stephen. "Saab proposes 85 Gripen NGs for Netherlands", Flight International, 1 August 2008.
  37. ↑ "Switzerland invites Gripen team to bid for F-5 Tiger replacement", Gripen International, 17 January 2008.
  38. ↑ "Saab offers Gripen to Switzerland", Gripen International, 2 July 2008.
  39. ↑ Vatahov, Ivan. "Bulgaria receives multi-role offer from Gripen", TheSofiaEcho, 4 September 2006.
  40. ↑ (Romanian) "SUA şi UE se intrec să ne doboare MiG-urile" (Replacement of the MiG-21), from Cotidianul, January 2007.
  41. ↑ (Romanian) Romania replaces the MiG-21, Antena 3, 16 May 2007.
  42. ↑ "Norway requests Sweden to bid for F-16 fleet replacement", Gripen International, 18 January 2008.
  43. ↑ "Gripen proposal to Norway delivered", Gripen International, 28 April 2008.
  44. ↑ "The Joint Strike Fighter recommended to replace the F-16", Prime Minister's Office, 20 November 2008.
  45. ↑ "The JAS-39 Gripen: Sweden's 4+ Generation Wild Card", Defense Industry Daily.
  46. ↑ "Brazil Embarking Upon F-X2 Fighter Program?", Defense Industry Daily.
  47. ↑ (Swedish) "Klart för nya Super-Gripen" (Ready for the new Super-Gripen), E24, 17 April 2007.
  48. ↑ "Sweden delivers final 3 Gripen fighter aircraft to Hungary", Gripen International, 13 December 2007.
  49. ↑ "Gripen team on target in South Africa", Gripen International, 13 November 2007.
  50. ↑ "First Gripen for South Africa Delivered", Gripen International, 8 May 2008.
  51. ↑ Hoyle, Craig. "Gripen enhancements escape Swedish cutbacks", Flightglobal.com, 7 September 2007.
  52. ↑ "Sweden commits to Gripen’s future", Gripen International, 17 October 2007.
  53. ↑ "Saab signs new agreement with UK’s test pilots’ school", Gripen International, 15 February 2008.
  54. ↑ "Government approves Thailand deal", Gripen International, 25 January 2008.
  55. ↑ "Thailand to buy six Swedish Gripen fighters", Reuters, 17 October 2007.
  56. ↑ "Thailand selects Gripen and Erieye", Gripen International, 17 October 2007.
  57. ↑ "Gripen agreement between Sweden and Thailand signed", Gripen International, 11 February 2008.
  58. ↑ Hoyle, Craig. "Thailand signs contract for six Saab Gripen fighters", Flightglobal.com, 15 February 2008.
  59. ↑ "Press Release on Gripen program", Royal Thai Air Force.
  60. ↑ Gripen Technical Summary, Gripen International.
  61. ↑ (Portuguese) "Gripen para o Brasil" (Gripen for Brazil), p. 6, Gripen International.
  62. ↑ Williams 2003, p. 90.
  63. ↑ JAS-39 Gripen Supersonic Aircraft, Czech Republic.
  64. ↑ Gripen weapons, Gripen International.
  65. ↑ Spick 2000, p. 431.
  66. ↑ (combat radius on p. 39, B1), Defence University, SwAF Air Tactical Command.

Bibliography

  • Frawley, Gerard. The International Directory of Military Aircraft, 2002-2003. London: Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2002. ISBN 1-875671-55-2.
  • Griffiths, Dave. "AFM Evaluates the Gripen." AirForces Monthly, No. 144, March 2000.
  • Lake, Jon. "Gripen C/D" (Supplement). Air International. London: Key Publishing Ltd., July 2008.
  • Lindqvist, Gunnar and Bo Widfeldt. Rikets flygplanköp - JAS 39 Gripen (Swedish). Nässjö, Sweden: Air Historic Research AB, 2003. ISBN 91-973892-5-0.
  • Spick, Mike. "Saab JAS 39 Gripen". The Great Book of Modern Warplanes. St. Paul, Minnesota: MBI Publishing Company, 2000. ISBN 0-7603-0893-4.
  • Williams, Mel (ed.). Superfighters, The Next Generation of Combat Aircraft. London: AIRtime, 2003. ISBN 1-880588-53-6.
  • Winchester, Jim (ed.). "Saab JAS 39 Gripen." Modern Military Aircraft (Aviation Factfile). Rochester, Kent, UK: Grange Books plc, 2004. ISBN 1-84013-640-5.

External links

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