Naval Gripens!

And why nto a naval Gripen? India needs a carrier-based jet, Brazil could use an actual MODERN carrier-based jet, and who knows where else they could sell them?

Look at the numbers (these all came from the 2004 edition of Jane’s All The World’s Aircraft, so I make no illusion as to their being 100% accurate):

Gripen
Empty Weight-14,600lb
MTOW-30,864lb
Internal Fuel-5000lb
Span-27ft6.5in
Length-46ft3in
Height-14ft9in
Loiter Time-N/A
Combat Radius-432 NM

Rafale-N
Empty Weight-23,611lb
MTOW-42,990-54,013lb
Internal Fuel-9348lb
Span-35ft5.25in
Length-50ft1.25in
Height-17ft6.25in
Loiter Time-3 hours
Combat Radius-AA-950 NM (8 MICA, 4 tanks, high altitude); AG-570 NM (4 MICA, 3 tanks, 12 250kg bombs, low altitude)

EF-2000
Empty Weight-24,582lb
MTOW-46,297lb
Internal Fuel-9920lb
Span-35ft11in
Length-52ft4.25in
Height-17ft4in
Loiter Time-3 hours
Combat Radius-AA-750 NM (with 10 minutes of loiter time), AG-750 NM (7 AAM, designator pod, 3 LGBs, hi-lo-hi profile)

F/A-18E
Empty Weight-32,082lb
MTOW-66,000lb
Internal Fuel-14,008lb
Span-44ft8.5in (32ft7.25in folded)
Length-60ft3.5in
Height-16ft
Loiter Time-2 hours 15 minutes
Combat Radius-AA-795 NM (2 AIM-9, 4 AIM-120, 3 tanks); AG-945 NM (2 AIM-9, 2 AIM-120, 3 tanks, 2 SLAM-ER, high altitude)

MiG-29K
Empty Weight-about 23,000lb
MTOW-49,383lb
Internal Fuel-N/A
Span-39ft4in
Length-56ft11.5in
Height-17ft
Loiter Time-N/A
Combat Radius-N/A for the -K model

Gripen matches up favorably when compared to the MiG-29K and Rafale-N when you look at aircraft size. I threw in the F/A-18E and EF-2000 for comparison.

So how about it? A naval Gripen would be an outstanding naval lightweight fighter in my opinion. The “it’s only got one engine” argument holds no water really, as the A-4, A-7, F-8, and Harrier all did just fine with one engine, and the A-4 and Harrier still do. Give the plane some CFTs, and tweak the loadouts, and it’s radius of action will go up I’m sure.

This idea would make a great A-4 replacement for the Brazilians, and solve India’s naval aircraft problems. Being smaller than the MiG-29K, even when it folds up its wings and nose, it woudl fit on Gorshkov no problem. Hell, give it folding wings and it may be able to even use the old Yak-36 elevators 😀 Anyone else got any opinions on this?