Ok then, first post will contain pdfs to good information on the Gripen jet. All in the English language and official stuff. If links die I have saved backups.
Read up on Gripen:
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Gripen Overview: From 2007 – Lots of good general capability info from the Program Director, history, current, future.
Gripen to Norway: General capabilities etc, similar type of document as above.
Gripen Demo NG Info: April 2008 – Talks about Gripen Demo/NG weight, fuel, AESA, new Electronic Warfare suite etc that can either be applied to existing Gripens or customized NGs.
Gripen News Demo Special Edition News from NG demo rollout, talks about NG and the Demonstrator.
ISTAR Overview: Swedish military outlines ISTAR capabilities.
Gripen News Magazine, back issues from 1997. Current issues here.
NG Demo Info: General info about the Gripen DEMO and Next Generation development.
NG Demo Testprogram Some info on flight testing the new F-414 powered Gripen Demo.
New Architecture (schematics)
NG to NL Brief Presentation to Holland, info abt Gripen NG with some examples on range/payload.
NG to NL Info Presentation to Holland, additional info abt Gripen NG.
Gripen NG to Netherlands, Third PDF
Test Program update, from 2005, info about integration work, system updates, maintenance solutions.
Gripen Presentation Nov-2008, VP OpCap Nilsson, Estonian Aviation Society.
Gripen Presentation 2008: GI marketing brief.. General info including cutaway and 39C weapons chart.
The Gripen Mission: GI marketing, talks about pilot gear, cockpit and swingrole missions.
A summary of the only (?) official data on range that is available:
Gripen to Brazil (2003 FOR JAS 39C), page 8.
SwAF Air Tactical Command (1999) , page 39, Addendum B1.
Range from above pdfs:
JAS 39C
Combat radius: 800 km internal fuel
Combat radius: 1,550 Km with external fuel
Ferry range: 3,200 Km
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Quick Facts:
GE F-414G equipped Gripen NG Demo during heavy stores trials
Gripen NG is only 4% heavier than JAS 39C but comes with over 22% more engine thrust.
Engine improvement dry thrust: 25%
Engine improvement wet thrust: 22%
The F-414G engine will provide 20 to 25% more thrust over the existing RM12.
The NG Demonstrator has flown the new airframe and engine since May 2008.
Test phase 1 has performed maximum speed trials and heavy stores flutter tests.
Test phase 2 to start from 2009 will include tests of new sensors such as AESA.
Gripen NG Basic Specs (1)
Number of Stations 10
Empty weight 7.0 ton
MTOW >16 ton
Internal fuel >3.3 ton
External fuel 3.8 ton
Payload >6 ton
Gripen NG Range (2)
Range is increased an average of 40% over the JAS 39C as both the internal and external fuel capability is expanded.
Combat radius: 1,300 Km + 30 minutes on station with A2A weapons.
Range (one-way): 2,500 Km on internal fuel
Ferry range (one-way): 4,075 Km with external fuel
Combat Radius estimate: 1,800 km with A2A weapons
One drop tank (450 Gal) gives the Gripen NG an extra range of approximately 1000 km.
Design notice (3)
To accomodate a higher airflow for the F-414G engine the forward intakes has been expanded by about an inch. These forward intakes is removable on all JAS 39 models for modifications. The Laser Designator Pod station was removed for the modifications and will return over time and might be moved forward at the same time. Installing the new engine into the NG Demonstrator was successful on first attempt with only minor adjustments. Two new ventral stations has been fitted to the central fuselage and a rearranged landing gear has created space for a new internal fuel tank. The Demonstrator (a rebuilt JAS39B/D) is used to show possible upgrades to existing Gripens or solutions for completely new models.
The avionics planned for the NG is of the same products planned for C/D upgrades and is already part of the long term development and test program that existed before the launch of the NG Demonstrator. The F414 Gripen Demo is test aircraft 39-7 and flies next to her lighter RM12 sister 39-6. Other test aircraft is involved in the development such as 39-1 who is conducting METEOR missile tests with the PS/05A radar.
Sources: [1], [2], [3] Additional source
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F414G on Gripen 39C ? Possible. Would increase the T/W ratio by 22%.
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RCS, IR
Gripen has very small Infra-red and radar signature. This has been further reduced for each new version. Gripen has less than 1/10th the average RCS of a F-16C and most likely the lowest RCS and IR signature of any non-stealth fighter today. A new Volvo Aero radial flame holder has significantly reduced the IR signature from the engine section. The aircraft has a innovative air/fuel distribution system with a set of heat exchangers, ram air intakes, shoulder placed exchaust ducts and computerized control to cool down the aircraft. When fuel reach a specified temperature from a heat source it is replaced by cooler fuel that has been distributed through these systems. The flash protection has been replaced in 39C to be a conductive paint as opposed to the metallic stripes this has both lowered rcs and support costs. Lights has been changed from bulbs to LED and there’s also infra-red lights on the aircraft for lo-vis night flights so FAC’s or wingmen with NVG can see the aircraft in the night.
Signature reductions was part of design start, reduced for 39C and will according to the SwAF be further reduced for the Gripen NG.
Gripen has yet to fly but Saab speaks of plans to reduce rcs
The Swedish defence research agency names the average rcs of Gripen A to 0.1m2
The 39C/D has a new airframe with reduced RCS
Shoulder ducts to release excess heat from heat exchangers, placed over the wings to reduce visual IR signature from ground units.
Radar:
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November 10, 2008 at 5:57 am