so both used the PS-05/A radar?
I’ve also heard they used different RWR
Both used PS-05/A yes, Gripen A entered service with the MK.1 upgraded to MK.2, Gripen C debuted with the MK.3 which was one of the new features that I forgot to mention.
RWR was improved yes, RWR for NATO is like a massive database, Sweden only had access to the radar signatures it had encountered and could therefore identify, the upgraded one had all the signatures NATO had encountered, IIRC it also provided signal strength info and better directional awareness, but that might be wrong.
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All Gripens use the PS/05A, they did go through different Mark variants though, however info about which variants were used in which Gripens is sparse
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The options for fudging SARH loadouts for the South African Gripen are relatively slim from a logical perspective. Even if we pretend like the C could guide SARH missiles, South Africa’s stores were extremely limited from what I could tell. The arms embargo against South Africa began in 1977, while the Matra Super 530F didn’t enter service until 1979, so the best SARH missile in South Africa’s inventory (and probably the only one) would be the Matra R.530. By the time the arms embargo lifted, South Africa had developed the active homing R-Darter, so there was no need for them to purchase any more advanced SARH missiles.
Basically, giving it Skyflashes would be completely random and would also probably just annoy Swedish players, and giving it anything else would be equally asinine considering what South Africa actually had on hand. In my opinion an IR-only fit is very likely, although with the… questionable utility of Skyflashes at 12.0, the Swedish Gripen will also most likely only be bothering with 9Ms.
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Mk.3 definitely debuted with the Gripen C as I have a magazine somewhere which says ‘Gripen C is joining NATO exercises with the new PS-05/A MK.3 radar set’ or something to that extent from 2004.
MK.4 was a software upgrade to the Mk.3 includes new modes and ECCM.
The MK.5 was an experimental AESA for the Gripen E but it would appear it was cancelled in favour of a new unnamed radar which retains the gimble but has a new actual radar.
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Yeah, for ARB I’d only run Aim-9. Though in SB having that option for SkyFlash DFs would be good. But I reckon you’ll be right withwise to the SAAF Gripen. IRL it was only fitted with IRIS-T. So as a placeholder for that it will be the Aim-9Ms.
But still… we’ll have to see what they do. They might be really really lazy and just straight up C&P the loadout over to the other. For the same reason they keep the FGR2, FG1 and F4J(UK) identical, even though they could have differences.
I have no idea how the R-darter performs but based on range it seems a decent analogue to the MICA, would that be a potential option later on?
As for now though yeah Gripen’s gonna be IR only but there’s nothing wrong with that as 9M’s are very capable.
5 GBUs? Interesting… Is there a report for it missing or something?
R-Darter was retired along with the Cheetah in 2008. I’m sure they could just stick one on there if they felt like it though, it’s altogether plausible. It’s basically a Derby.
Did they actually equip their Gripens with the R-Darter? From what I’ve read they seem to have only used them on the Cheetahs
Edit: nevermind, great timing lol
Aye it was definitely integrated onto the Gripen and the SAAF bought their Gripens with the help of BAe money laundering in 2008?
They integrated them but I haven’t heard anything about it actually being fitted, but its technically possible and the dates match… Just.
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I don’t believe they ever did as there’s a lot of material saying that South Africa’s Gripens would not be entering service with BVRAAMs. Currently there are plans to integrate Denel’s Marlin according to the post that Griffin made on the old forum JAS-39 Gripen C (SAAF) - Other Nations - War Thunder - Official Forum
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Marlin looks like an R24R
![r/MilitaryPorn - Denel Dynamics Marlin is a radar-guided beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile technology demonstrator and the intention is to also use Marlin technology in an all-weather surface-to-air version [532x276]](https://i.redd.it/7rwf66i76dp11.jpg)
I wonder if those will ever enter service or remain as nebulous as the A-Darter
I doubt it, they can barely afford the Gripens let alone a new indigenous missile, they’d have been better off upgrading the R-Darter and A-Darter. I ain’t got a clue what they’re thinking they can do with their budget but this isn’t it.
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I’ve heard they were planning on getting A-Darters at some point for their Gripens.
They are, they just haven’t been able to actually build one yet.
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The A-Darter was planned to enter production in 2015 and to be used on the Gripen. They haven’t produced a combat capable missile to this day
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Upon a minute of digging, it would appear they managed to produce a few pre-production missiles, and send them to SAAB-BAE for integration, the missile is integrated on Gripen, but then a few of the key personnel on the project resigned and they now not only have been unable to produce more, but even if they could they couldn’t sign-off on them being of an acceptable standard.
However as Gripen now technically can use the missile. It could receive them.
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