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2020-10-13

Saab Leverages the Power of Partnership on Gripen E

The first Swedish Gripen E aircraft flying side-by-side with the first Brazilian Gripen, is a sign of a successful collaboration between the countries as well as their air forces and industry.

Commander of the Swedish Air Force, Major General Carl-Johan Edström, said: “I am incredibly proud to be a Commander in a nation that manufactures its own fighter aircraft. It is not only something remarkable, but it means that I can safely say we are tactically superior already with the system we have today, Gripen C/D.

“I want my successors to be able to say with the same confidence that they are tactically superior in any given situation and time. We will be that with Gripen E, but we cannot do this alone. That is where the collaboration comes in. We wanted a partner, and we have that in Brazil.

They are a partner who, just like us, is long-term in their outlook and commitment. And just like us, they want to build their capacity for the next 20 years and longer.”

Full Speed Ahead

Currently, there are seven Gripen E in the air, which will soon be accompanied by more. The flight critical part of the programme is more or less completed and Saab is now focusing on the tactical issues, meaning integration and testing of weapons, sensors etc. Joint verification and validation of the first serial production aircraft to the Swedish customer started in 2019. Serial production deliveries will continue this year.

The first aircraft to Brazil has been delivered, having started its flight testing in Linköping, and will later this year continue with flight test operations in Brazil.

Brazil is not the only new test site at which Saab is expanding its flight operation this year. Saab will also transfer a Gripen E aircraft to Malmen airbase in Linköping as part of its joint testing strategy together with the Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV) and the Swedish Armed Forces, as the company begins to introduce Gripen E to the Swedish customer.

In parallel with these flight test operations, other Gripen E production-related activities are at full speed including structural assembly, installation and final assembly. This work employs about 1,200 employees within Saab Aeronautics and a steady-state production rate of 24 aircraft per year will be achieved in 2020.

Driving the National Defence Industry

The Brazilian Gripen programme is driving the development of the national defence industry in the country. They are involved in the development of structures, systems, avionics, production, flight testing and training to support, maintain and modernise the Gripen fleet for decades to come. Some of these companies have been included in Saab’s global supply chain for Gripen E/F. This whole process generated one of the largest technology transfer programmes carried out for the Brazilian Air Force, and reportedly the largest ever done by Saab to another country.

Brazil and its defence industry have a large participation in the development of Gripen F. In all, 400 engineers are working on the development of Gripen F (the two-seat aircraft), most of who are located at the Gripen Design and Development Network (GDDN) at the Embraer plant in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo. At the same plant, the Gripen Flight Test Centre will start to operate later this year and the first aircraft should leave Embraer’s production line in 2023.

Intelligent Fighter System

Gripen E/F is a true multi-role fighter developed to counter and defeat advanced threats in a modern battlespace and to continuously evolve in order to keep up with new challenges. It is an intelligent fighter system that rapidly embraces new technology and tactics.

Gripen E/F is part of the Gripen E-series and a new fighter aircraft system. Developed to counter and defeat advanced future threats, the E-series is for customers with more pronounced threats or wider territories to secure. The E-series has a new and powerful engine, improved range performance and the ability to carry greater payloads.

The fighter carries a variety of both active and passive measures to disrupt enemy efforts and protect itself and other friendly units. Its advanced electronic warfare system, similar to an electronic shield, allows disruption of the enemy’s ability to function effectively. This can be used either to assist in destruction of enemy assets or to reduce the enemy’s understanding and ability to react.

Reference Text/Photo: www.saabgroup.com

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