Gripen demonstrator to fly next year.

I´m mostly a lurker here but I couldn’t resist to post this: 🙂

Saab works on next-generation version of Gripen

The new engine and airframe modifications will fly on a demonstrator in 2008, jointly funded by the Swedish government, Saab, Ericsson, Volvo and GE. An active electronically scanned array radar will fly on the demonstrator in 2009. Other new avionics will be tested on ground rigs to ensure that the latest possible technology will be used. To reduce costs, Saab intends to separate mission avionics from flight-critical systems, so that non-certifiable software can be used for mission applications.

http://www4.janes.com/subscribe/jdw/doc_view.jsp?K2DocKey=/content1/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2007/jdw31859.htm@current&Prod_Name=JDW&QueryText=

Regards, NOAS