Brazilian decision on fighters by the end of March

According to Brazilian news site Último Segundo, Brazilian Air Force Brigadier Juniti Saito states that the Brazilian government is expected to announce by the end of next month what type of fighters that will be bought by the Brazilian Air Force.

Information disseminated by the press recently states that the Air Force has a preference for the Gripen NG, which is the cheapest of the three models and offer greater participation by Brazilian industry as it is a project still under development.

(Source in Portuguese)
(Google translation)

METEOR promo vid

Spotted by signatory at Military Photos Forum

Here is a promotional video for Meteor missile. Since it has only been fired from Gripen yet, such an event is shown in the video.

SELEX Galileo’s IRST to provide stealth search and track function for Gripen Next Generation

Spotted by signatory at Military Photos Forum 

SELEX Galileo has released a press release about IRST in Gripen.

SELEX Galileo is pleased to announce that Saab has selected the Infrared Search & Track (IRST) system SKYWARD-G to equip Saab’s Gripen Next Generation (NG) fighter.

IRST provides similar functionality to a radar without giving out electromagnetic radiation and can therefore provide full operational search and track functionality with a stealth capability. IRST can operate in highly cluttered environments to track single and multiple targets, and can also operate in slaved acquisition mode.

SKYWARD-G is a product of SELEX Galileo’s extensive experience in the field of infrared search and track airborne and naval systems and is the latest addition to the Company’s proven record in delivering innovative technology to customers.

The selection of the SKYWARD-G system follows the agreement signed in March 2009
between Saab and SELEX Galileo for the development of the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar Raven ES-05 for the Gripen Next Generation.

SELEX Galileo is a key provider of leading edge sensors for the most advanced fighters. With the Raven ES-05 and with the IRST, the Company will be guaranteeing the full mission effectiveness of the next generation aircraft Gripen NG.

(Source pdf)

Swedish fighters over Bodø

Spotted by madschristoffer at Military Photos Forum

According to Norwegian newspaper Avisa Nordland, Swedish Gripens have arrived to Bodø to participate in exercise Cold Respons.

JAS-Gripen aircraft will be in the period from Wednesday through Friday aircraft together with the Norwegian F-16 aircraft during the day as part of the run-up to the event.

(Source in Norwegian)
(Google translation)

Saab extends the time period for the Swedish Air Force's anti-ship missile

Spotted by signatory at Military Photos Forum

Saab has signed a contract with FMV (the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration) regarding the introduction of life-extending measures for the Air Force's RBS15F anti-ship missile.


The contract that was signed between FMV and Saab involves the replacement of lifetime-limiting components and the implementation of extended testing in connection with the standard maintenance, which is continuously taking place at Saabs facility in Arboga.

The order is worth MSEK 77 with an option allowing the customer to extend the contract in the near future. The work is expected to take place over a 3-year period.

"The agreement makes it possible to cost-effectively maintain a missile system which, with extremely high performance, can be used by the Armed Forces for many years,” says Mats Pettersson, Head of division Logtronics within the Saab business area Support and Services.

RBS15F was put into service by the Swedish Air Force at the end of the 1980s as the main weapon for combating marine vessels. The missile was initially carried by the AJ37 Viggen but is now one of JAS39 Gripen's armaments.

(Source)

Bildt in Brazil

Swedish Foreign Minister is writing on his blog about his visit to Brazil where he among other things have discussed Gripen with the Brazilian defence minister Jobim.

In this context, I also reiterated the government's support of the Swedish JAS Gripen as one of the options now valued for the Brazilian Air Force.

(Source in Swedish)
(Google translation)

First Gripen C arrives to South Africa.

Spotted by signatory at Military Photos Forum

The unofficial website on the South African Air Force reports about the first two Gripen C arriving to Cape Town. After being unloaded from the ships, the two planes were towed on the streets to the Ysterplaat Air Force Base.

Pictures and full story can be found here.