Gripen in Foreign Service and Future Enchancements

* Although the Swedes have traditionally been reluctant to export weapons, the end of the Cold War led to some relaxation of this policy, and in June 1995 SAAB formed a partnership with BAE Systems named "Gripen International" to sell the Gripen on the world market. SAAB was forced to seek international sales for the Gripen, since the Swedish government contract for the fighter was so tight-fisted that Gripen International's president, Hans Kruger, once said he'd "lost his shirt, tie, and jacket on the Batch 1 deal."

The arrangement allowed SAAB to leverage off the British firm's international marketing clout. BAE Systems felt that the Gripen would neatly fit in their product line, between the Hawk and the Eurofighter Typhoon. Three years later, BAE Systems obtained a 35% share in Saab.

There was skepticism in the aircraft industry that the Gripen could meet the competition from American and French manufacturers, but events have proven the skeptics wrong. The first export success for the Gripen occurred in 1999, when South Africa ordered 28, with initial deliveries scheduled for 2008.

The South African deal wasn't heavily contested, but late in 2001, Hungary committed to a ten-year lease for 14 Gripens from the Flygvapnet, with an option to buy at the end of the lease term, which will almost certainly be exercised. Deliveries of the Hungarian Gripens began in 2006 with final deliveries scheduled for late 2007. Immediately after this win, the Czech Republic announced a preliminary agreement to buy a batch of Gripens. Although the deal was put on hold in 2002 after Central Europe was hit with some of the worst floods in the entire history of the region, with governments scrambling to respond to the emergency, it was revived, resulting in a lease deal established in late 2003 for twelve single-seaters and two two-seaters. All deliveries were performed in 2005, with the lease deal ending in 2015. Czech Gripens are armed with US-built AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles.

The success of the Gripen in Hungary and the Czech Republic was a real surprise, since there had been strong competition from US and French offerings. Although the Gripen has lost some other deals, most significantly a large Polish order that went to the F-16, it is a strong contender for Brazilian requirement for 24 new fighters, with a possible ultimate total of 60. A decision on the deal has dragged out due to economic difficulties, but the requirement still stands. Sweden and Brazil might sound like unlikely military partners, but SAAB and Embraer of Brazil have an ongoing collaboration involving fit of the Erieye system to an Embraer ERJ-145 jetliner.

Export Gripens are generally Batch 3 standard aircraft -- the Hungarians, being an early adopter, are settling for a "near-Batch 3" configuration, with mixed features of Batch 2 and Batch 3 machines. The British ASRAAM and Israeli Rafael Python 4 short-range heat-seeking AAMs, and the Rafael "Litening" targeting and navigation pod are being qualified for the Gripen to support export sales. The Thales "Vicon 70" reconnaissance pod will be qualified for export Gripens, though the Flygvapnet will use a pod being developed by SAAB.

BAE Systems is working to integrate the NATO-standard "Link 16" datalink system with export Gripens, which is desired by potential customers though it isn't as capable as the TDLS datalink used by Flygvapnet Gripens.

* Features under development for future Gripens include:

* An electronically-scanned array (AESA) radar based on the PS-05/A, now being developed by Ericsson. An AESA consists of an array of programmable "transmit-receive (TR)" modules that can operate in parallel to perform separate or collaborative functions, performing, for example, jamming and target acquisition at the same time. The AESA will provide enhanced multimode capabilities, as well as extended range for beyond visual range missiles. It is scheduled for introduction in the 2005:2010 timeframe.

* Improved defensive countermeasures, including new towed decoys and missile and laser warning systems.

* The "OTIS" infrared search and track (IRST) system now under development by Saab Dynamics and being tested on a Viggen. OTIS will provide multiple modes for both air to air and air to ground combat.

* The Thales "Guardian" helmet-mounted display (HMT), now being evaluated on the Gripen for cueing the IRIS-T and other smart weapons.

The Gripen's digital architecture makes software upgrades straightforward, at least as such things go. Possible software improvements include new radar and datalink modes; a new terrain-referenced navigation system; and a fully autonomous precision landing-guidance system.

In the long term, SAAB is looking at a new engine, such as the General Electric F414 or a thrust-vectoring version of the EJ2000 engine used on the Eurofighter; conformal fuel tanks or a fuselage stretch for greater range; a wide-angle HUD; a binocular helmet-mounted display; a direct voice-command system; and an advanced missions support system.

The Flygvapnet is also contemplating the the use of the two-seat JAS 39B for missions such as command and control of strike packages or maritime operations; suppression of enemy air defenses; as a "mini-AWACS" platform; or as a controller for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Source: www.vectorsite.net