Gripen Demo Clears Leh Trials!

LiveFist is reporting today that the Gripen NG demo aircraft has been sent to Inida to go through the same trials that were made with Gripen D earlier this year. It landed at the Air Force Station Jamnagar, Gujarat on Monday, and cleared its high altitude trials in Leh today.

photo: Katsuhiko Tokunaga / SAAB

IAF pilots already got a chance to fly the Gripen Demo in the first week of April at Linkoping, Sweden, but calling the Demo airplane to India was necessary to complete all the demands in the field evaluation test (FET) plan.

(Source)

Gripen NG Demonstrator flight tests in progress

The flight test program with the Gripen NG Demonstrator continues according to plan at the Saab facilities in Linkoping.The latest flight, number 117 since the flight test programme started, was flown today.

Photo: Stefan Kalm / Saab

We are now testing all the tactical systems, such as the AESA radar and the new communications system. The test programme is very extensive, and the unusually harsh cold and snowy winter here in Sweden has challenged the programme schedule but we are now quickly catching up, says Mattias Bergström, the Gripen NG Demonstrator project manager.

We have finished, and successfully verified, the flight tests of the electro-optical Missile Approach Warning System (MAW) and the new fuel system with larger internal fuel tanks.

The Gripen NG is the next generation of the Gripen fighter, which is in service with the air forces of Sweden, the Czech Republic, Hungary and South Africa. It is also ordered by the Royal Thai Air Force and is flown by the Empire Test Pilots School, ETPS, in the UK.

(Source)

Royal visit to Brazil

Spotted by signatory at Military Photos Forum

Swedish King Gustav and Queen Silvia are scheduled to travel to Brazil, arriving in the next 23 days, and in between workshops and a dinner with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the real agenda includes a visit to the headquarters of Embraer in Sao José dos Campos.

Although the visit has been scheduled for some time, the Swedish businessmen celebrate the fact that the king will be in Brazil, coincidentally, at the same time it is expected the announcement that billionaire contract involves the purchase of 36 new aircraft.

Full article including interview (in portuguese)
(Google translation)

South African Air Force unveils new IRIS-T missile

The newly delivered IRIS-T air-to-air missile was shown to the public for the first time at the South African Air Force’s 90th anniversary parade held at AFB Swartkop, Pretoria.

 

Photo: Dean Wingrin

In 2008 the SAAF selected the IRIS-T as an interim short range air-to-air missile. It will ultimately be replaced by the indigenously designed and produced A-Darter, which is still under development.

Lt Gen Carlo Gagiano, Chief of the SAAF, said: “This missile is the state of the art high kill probability short range air missile with unrivalled performance capabilities which, when coupled to a helmet mounted display can engage air threats in the rear quarter of the aircraft as is the case with the SAAF Gripens”.

South Africa has ordered 26 Gripen state-of-the-art fighters which are modernising the SAAF’s fast jet fleet and capability. It currently operates nine dual seat Gripen D aircraft and will soon receive its first of 17 single-seat Gripen C fighters.

(Source)

Gripen development

Spotted by Signatory at Military Photos Forum

FMV (Swedish defence material authority) reports about further development of the Gripen.

Improvements in self-protection, a new light attack weapon and the capacity for data communications with ground units are examples of new capabilities included in the order that FMV added Saab AB today. The order is a step in the further development of Gripen and has a total value of approximately SEK 2 billion.

FMV delivered the last Gripen aircraft to the Swedish Armed Forces over a year ago. Now the maintenance and threat adaptation in accordance with the Armed Forces operational requirements. The work aims to make it possible to operate the JAS 39 Gripen fighter concept to 2040.

(Full source in Swedish)
(Google translation)

Saab receives order for development of Gripen

Defence and security company Saab has received an order from FMV (the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration) concerning development of the existing Gripen fleet. The order value amounts to SEK 2 billion for Saab, split over a period of four years.

 

Photo: Pia Ericson/FMV

The capability of the Swedish Air Force’s Gripen C/D aircraft is continuously subject to adjustment and upgrading in order that it can operate and remain effective and advanced also in the future. The order includes further adjustments for increased operational effect, like for instance upgraded countermeasure and communication systems. The order also includes other measures to further reduce the operating costs, based on experience gathered from more than 130,000 flight hours.

Also included is integration of new weapons, and the existing radar is gaining an increased range along with new functions. Improvements are also being introduced to reduce the noise and emissions from test runs during engine maintenance.

Work will mainly take place at Saab’s plants in Linköping, Gothenburg, Järfälla, Kista and Arboga.

(Source)

Gripens Depart Sweden For Trials In India

Shiv Aroor writes on his blog LiveFist that two Gripens are now on their way to India for the final round of the evaluation for the MMRCA (medium multirole combat aircraft) competition.

IAF test pilots have already undergone intensive training on the aircraft and the aircraft have already undergone the first stage of trials in Linkoping in November 2009, which included flight performance, logistics capability, weapons systems, advanced sensors and weapons firing.

(Source)