Not much has been published regarding Gripen NG’s sensor fusion:

“We do that by sensor fusion… using data fusion technology. This covers information coming in from radars, IRST, EW sensors, targeting pods, 3rd party sensors (including air-land-sea) and also information from the weapons,” says the Gripen test pilot who is conducting me around the fighter.

http://ajaishukla.blogspot.com/2011/12/visit-to-gripen-saab-executives-say.html?_sm_au_=iMVTqbvfrDHLSVk5

Swedish aerospace firm Saab reiterated its offer to supply the next generation Gripen-E fighter aircraft to India through the “government-to-government” route and has offered to not only make the aircraft in India but also create the required manufacturing ecosystem in the country as part of the multi-billion dollar project.

“We are not saying don’t go ahead with Rafale with France. We know that the Indian Air Force has a much bigger requirement than the 36 aircraft being negotiated. Over the next seven years, the IAF will be down to less than 30 squadrons. We are offering the Gripen through the government-to-government route, which is the best process,” Saab, air systems vice-president Sudhir Varma said on Tuesday.

Full story: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Saab-offers-to-make-Gripen-E-aircraft-in-India/articleshow/51606898.cms

Well most people who praise the F-35 has also not flown it… 🙂

Joking aside, the F-35 no doubt will be very potent. The main issue remains regarding the cost, in particular the operating costs.

Also; how many has flown the “only” true 4.5 gen jet out there (the Rafale?)

Lokes up-to-date definition of 4.5 gen jet:

* Reduced RCS (compared to 4. gen)
* built-in IRST; RWR, IR based MAWs with “spherical” coverage
* AESA radar
* built-in AESA based EWS
* Sensor fusion, improved HMI

The question is not if the Rafale will survive a meeting with the F-35; the question is whether it will successfully complete a relevant mission or not. Assume a specific mission can be completed with 95% probability of success; how much can the F-35 improve on this? As time goes by the success rate of Rafale (and other 4.5 gen fighters, once they become operational) is likely to drop, unless they are upgraded, however if they are upgraded they should be able to keep the edge for at least another 15-20 years would be my guess.

Nevertheless, F-35 will of course have higher survivability in the most high-threat scenarios, so one should assess how relevant those scenarios are. One of the few I can imagine is facing off double-digit SAMs with no additional support.

March 26: The uncertainty over India’s negotiations with France for the Rafale fighter aircraft and the air force’s desperation to stall the depletion of its combat fleet have prompted global aviation majors to dovetail their planes into Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” campaign.

After US companies Lockheed Martin and Boeing, Swedish firm Saab has now said that it is willing to transfer technology and set up a new company with an Indian partner to make its latest fighter aircraft, the Gripen E, in India.

We don’t have all the answers but we have a plan. We have the Brazilian experience,” said Magnus Falk, Saab’s vice-president and head of business development. Saab has proposed a joint venture company with an Indian private firm. The joint venture is tentatively named “Indian National Aircraft Company” (INAC).

The makers of the Gripen E say the aircraft is a qualitative improvement over the plane that competed (and lost) for the aborted Indian MMRCA contract.

Read more: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160327/jsp/nation/story_76679.jsp#.VvgFbdJ97IU

the head of the Ministry of Defense said that one of the objectives is work on the possibility of carrying out “manufacturing and assembly Gripen fighters design.

”

Google translated from: http://www.mindef.gov.ar/plantillaNoticia.php?notId=104

It’s amazing; don’t Argentina and Brazil not get it that as long as there are UK components in the Gripen (like the radar) there is no way that Argentina will be able to buy Gripen. And replacing all the UK content in Gripen will make it much more expensive.

http://hushkit.net/2016/03/17/su-35-versus-typhoon-analysis-from-rusis-justin-bronk/

I am surprised nobody has commented on this — so basically the tiny, low-cost Gripen with inferior TWR, inferior agility, etc. is a real threat to the air superiority Typhoon due to the EW. With a combination of Meteor and IRIS-T* tiny Gripen C will be a formidable opponent also for a/c like Typhoon and Su-35… that makes me wonder what Gripen E will be!?

*Typhoon has an unpleasant meeting with a Gripen with IRIS-T and HMD:

Far out in the periphery can I find him, I turn my head out to the max and get in their sights but no tone. For exercise, for technical reasons, I wear just a robot, and it is in this maneuver on the wrong side of the aircraft and homing is shaded by the fuselage. I continue the maneuver in a roll with the aircraft inverted and the homing device will then find the target. The battle is over 9 seconds.

Google translated from: https://blogg.forsvarsmakten.se/flygvapenbloggen/2014/06/06/verklighetsnara-taktikutveckling-av-jas-39-i-england-meatball-ur-en-pilots-perspektiv/

Also if the Rafale deal collapses, I hope the GOI gets some brains and inducts some of the UAE/Qatari Mirages brought up to the new I standard, if they are still available that is. Keeps the French Govt somewhat OK and adds punch to the IAF. The PLAAF is mostly J-10 and the PAFs best are F-16s. The Mirage 2000-I will remain relevant for a while to come.

Buying those Mirage seems like a “no-brainer” to rapidly increase the number of a/c, and without introducing yet another type into the inventory….

Actually that should be the preferred solution at this stage, if the low number of a/c is a real problem. No other deal will be able to increase the number of a/c similarly quickly (assuming those Mirage are really available on the market!?)