SAAB Gripen and Gripen NG thread #4

Saab Presents First Gripen E to Brazil

https://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/205769/saab-hands-over-first-production-gripen-e-fighter-to-brazil.html

I wonder how it will get to Brazil. Sweden is a long way from Brazil.

The distance from the Kap Verde Islands to Brazil is 2700 km.

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Even with air to air refuelling, they had a few stops along the way:

This year’s exercise provided the first opportunity for Gripens to use tankers during Red Flag, and was also the first time the Swedish aircraft had deployed to and from the USA with air-to-air refuelling support, in the form of two USAF KC-10s. This meant the number of required and planned stops could be reduced from six or seven landings used on earlier deployments, to only three.

That was in 2013, and they stopped at Lajes. In earlier Red Flags, AAR wasn’t possible and they needed six or seven stops. From here.

Sounds like a lot of work compared to just flying it it there. Gripens take part in Red Flag so it’s not unusual for them to cross the atlantic.

Does USAF refuel them mid-Atlantic because they are attending an exercise in USA or do they go via (I guess) Iceland?

Does it really need to fly all the way ? Why can’t just ship it or load it into some AN-124’s ?

Sounds like a lot of work compared to just flying it it there. Gripens take part in Red Flag so it’s not unusual for them to cross the atlantic.

Does it really need to fly all the way ? Why can’t just ship it or load it into some AN-124’s ?

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The first F-39 will perform flight tests in Sweden until the end of 2020, then continue flight tests in Brazil.
If I had to guess, I’d say AAR certification of the E model will be part of the flight tests before going to Brazil.
Probably still going to include 1 or 2 stops… maybe Gando air base (Gran Canaria/Spain).

Fly there? It’s not like the Gripen can’t cross the Atlantic…

Well I agree it can fly across the Atlantic (quoted ferry range of 4000Km) but it can’t do Sweden-Brazil without refuelling, so I wondered what route it would take.

Fly there? It’s not like the Gripen can’t cross the Atlantic…

Saab Presents First Gripen E to Brazil

https://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/205769/saab-hands-over-first-production-gripen-e-fighter-to-brazil.html

I wonder how it will get to Brazil. Sweden is a long way from Brazil.

That’s a beauty

First Brazilian Gripen E Completes its First Flight

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Saab today completed a successful first flight with the first Brazilian Gripen E fighter aircraft, 39-6001. At 2.41 pm CET on August 26, the Gripen E aircraft took off on its maiden flight flown by Saab test pilot Richard Ljungberg. The aircraft operated from Saab´s airfield in Linköping, Sweden.

The duration of the flight was 65 minutes and included test points to verify basic handling and flying qualities at different altitudes and speeds. The main purpose was to verify that the aircraft behavior was according to expectations.

“This milestone is a testament to the great partnership between Sweden and Brazil. Less than five years since the contract was signed, the first Brazil Gripen has conducted her first flight,” says Håkan Buskhe, President and CEO of Saab.

This aircraft is the first Brazilian production aircraft and will be used in the joint test program as a test aircraft. The main differences compared to the previous test aircraft are that 39-6001 has a totally new cockpit layout, with a large Wide Area Display (WAD), two small Head Down Displays (sHDD) and a new Head Up Display (HUD). Another major difference is an updated flight control system with updated control laws for Gripen E. It also includes modifications both in hardware and software.

“For me as a pilot it has been a great honour to fly the first Brazilian Gripen E aircraft as I know how much this means for the Brazilian Air Force and everyone at Saab and our Brazilian partners. The flight was smooth and the aircraft behaved just as we have seen in the rigs and simulators. This was also the first time we flew with the Wide Area Display in the cockpit, and I am happy to say that my expectations were confirmed,” says Saab test pilot Richard Ljungberg.

39-6001 will now join the test programme for further envelope expansion as well as testing of tactical system and sensors.

39-6001 will be designated F-39 in the Brazilian Air Force and will have the tail number 4100.

https://saabgroup.com/media/news-press/news/2019-08/first-brazilian-gripen-e-completes-its-first-flight/

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02n1J9VC-_k

No worries. Bern said that it was definitive because otherwise it would not be fair for other contenders. But as you say, any fighter purchase has a political side…

https://www.vbs.admin.ch/de/verteidi…html#reifegrad

Briefly, planes present versions are chosen by armasuisse. Any system must have at least a TRL7. Any further improvements can (or not) be selected by swiss

Sorry. Yes. you are right. Not SAAB’s decision but Armasuisse. Doesn’t this mean Gripen E is out of contention unless it turns out to be the best option financially and the politicians go for that angle? That was what happened last time, I think.

It was on Armasuisse request that considered the platform not mature enough.

Gripen E to give Swiss flight tests a miss

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/gripen-e-to-give-swiss-flight-tests-a-miss-458883/

That reduces the number of contenders by 1, doesn’t it? Sounds a bit like a student saying he does not want to take an exam but wants to get better marks than the candidates who actually take the exam.

Third Gripen E takes to the air

SAAB expects to have 4 production aircraft flying by the end of 2019.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/picture-saab-flies-third-gripen-e-test-aircraft-458808/

The contract between Sweden and Hungary expires in 2026. It was extended in 2017, and includes an upgrade to the MS20 standard.
What happens after 2026 is of course totally open.

That would be the time to switch to F-35, wouldn’t it, if Hungary wanted to.

The contract between Sweden and Hungary expires in 2026. It was extended in 2017, and includes an upgrade to the MS20 standard.
What happens after 2026 is of course totally open.

thank you for the heads up. If true that would be quite a surprising news anyway… and perhaps in line with President Trump new policy to subsidize US made weapon for certain country in EU that are stuck with Russian harware.

Hungary May Scrap Swedish Jet Deal for US F-35 Over War of Words – Report

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/203053/hungary-may-scrap-gripen-lease-over-war-of-words-_-report.html

Should be noted that Fria Tider is a right wing extremist news source, might be true, but might also not be.