- Yes
- No
Gripen E for the swedish air force tech tree
Short Histroy:
In 2006 Saab started work on a new program to enhance its existing Gripen platform, this program later designated Gripen Demo, led to the building of one Demo aircraft which was unveiled in 2008. This Aircraft (a two seater 39-7) was supposed to form the basis for a new modernized Gripen version which later became the Gripen E.
This new aircraft took to the skies on the 27th May 2008 and featured enhanced avionics, a new and improved General Electric F414-GE-39E engine, more range and an AESA radar supplemented by an IRST sensor. After its maiden flight the plane underwent rigorous flight testing with major milestones being the demonstration of its supercruise capability in 2009.
The Gripen Demo was then used as a development platform for the new Gripen E program which started the pre production phase in 2013 with 3 prototypes being built (39-8 for aerodynamic tests, 39-9 for system tests, 39-10 for the finalization), the first one was unveiled in March 2016. The first flight was delayed till 2017 because of certification issues with the software. On June 15th 2017 maiden flight was done and the aircraft completed milestones such as supersonic flight by 2018.
Initially the Aircraft was marketed to Sweden, Brazil and Switzerland, but since the Swiss decided to procure the F-35 instead only Brazil and Sweden would remain as customers.
Sweden would order 60 aircraft in 2013 with plans of them getting fully delivered in 2020, since then the aircraft suffered multiple delays during the certification process, the first 2 production aircraft were delivered in December 2020 pre service testing by the Swedish air force (with Brazil getting 4) with full introduction starting in 2023.
The second large customer for the Gripen E, Brazil, ordered a first batch of 36 aircraft (called the F-39E) with at least 15 of those being built in Brazil with a new production line opening in 2023, with a further option for up to 120 aircraft of the type planned.
In 2024 Thailand decided to also procure Gripen Es with negotiations still ongoing and further details yet to be unveiled.
Variants of the Aircraft for Carrier Operations called the sea Gripen were both marketed to India and Brazil but those went nowhere.
Upgrades over the C:
- bigger and heavier than its predecessor
- 30% more fuel
- more Hardpoints (10 in total although one can only house a targeting/ECM pod)
- more powerful engine: General Electric F414-GE-39E (around 18kN more thrust)
- new Leonardo ES-05 Raven Active Electronically Scanned Array radar
- new Leonardo Skyward G infrared search and track sensor
- 360-degree MAWS and fancy stuff like Selex-ES Brite Cloud
- advanced electronic warfare suite
- wide area cockpit display and general improvements to the avionics
- Targo II helmet with HMS
General specifications:
Length: 15,2 meters
Width: 8,6 meters
max takeoff weight: 16,500 kg
Empty weight: 8,000 kg
Thrust: 98 kN (64kN without burner)
Range: up to 4000 km (ferry range)
max speed: Mach 2
G-limit: +9/-3 Gs
Weaponry:
Well the best question would be “What can’t it carry?” but i will try to keep it short (that’s a lie)
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Air to Air missiles:
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Up to 7 BVR missiles with 2 IR missiles on the wingtips possible
IR: Aim 9s, ASRAAM, IRS-T, Python, A-Darter
BVR: AMRAAM, Meteor, Derby, R-Darter
Ground ordinance:
Bombs:
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Mk82/83/84 General Purpose Bombs
LGBs:
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Paveway II and III
Lizard II/III
Enhanced Paveway II
GPS guided Bombs:
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GBU-39s
Spice EO
JDAM (GBU-31/32/38)
Air to ground missiles:
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Taurus
Brimstones
AGM-65
AGM-154
Anti Ship:
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RBS-15, RBS-15F ER
Targeting pod: LITENING 3
Could it be added right now (Update Storm Warning)?
→ Personal Opinion
Yes, it could but with a obviously reduced Weapons load. Nobody should expect getting Meteor or IRS-T soon. Since we saw the introduction of the Rafale with an AESA radar (although the Gripen Es radar is able to gimble to almost 90 degrees which would it make very powerful in BVR) it would not destroy the balance at top tier but rather add a healthy bit of competition to the top dogs.
thanks for reading
Sources:
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- https://web.archive.org/web/20170809225814/https://aviationweek.com/site-files/aviationweek.com/files/uploads/2014/09/asd_09_25_2014_jas7.pdf
- Saab JAS 39 Gripen - Wikipedia
- Sweden's Bigger Badder Gripen Fighter Packs A Lot Of Punch In An Incredibly Efficient Package
- Saab Gripen E: Der neue Greif | FLUG REVUE
- IRST Gives Gripen Excellent Situational Awareness
- Gripen E-series | Saab
- Saab Gripen NG Demo wieder im Einsatz
- Saab Gripen Demo schnell unterwegs
- https://www.airforce-technology.com/news/saabs-gripen-e-aircraft-reaches-milestone-with-delivery-to-swedens-fmv/?cf-view
- The Gripen E is comparable to the F-35A in many ways | CZDEFENCE - czech army and defence magazine
- https://militaryleak.com/2023/10/20/saab-delivers-first-series-produced-gripen-e-fighter-to-swedish-defence-materiel-administration/
- PICTURES: Saab reveals Gripen Demo aircraft | News | Flight Global
- Saab Gripen E in der Entwicklung | FLUG REVUE
- Saab Gripen E – der smarte Fighter | Cockpit
- https://www.twz.com/heres-why-saabs-gripen-e-fighters-wing-suddenly-grew-in-sizehttps://www.saab.com/markets/brazil/operations/gripen-final-assembly-line?__cf_chl_tk=MqZymoM2ZT.B47B_4UHaaRU8QkVkGneZIhZKe4rKrVI-1735681071-1.0.1.1-KUFc.Pj9RBKc4.ayXhzesgIFYPVwTF8YGMzZW1iUbuo
