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JAS 39 Gripen
Type	Multirole fighter
Manufacturer	Saab
Maiden flight	9 December 1988
Introduction	9 June 1996
Status	Active service
Primary users	Swedish Air Force South African Air Force Hungarian Air Force Czech Air Force
Number built	184 delivered as of September 2006 232 ordered
Unit cost	US$ 25 million (1998) US$ 45 to 50 million (2006)

The Saab JAS 39 "Gripen" (Griffin or "Gryphon") is a fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace company Saab. Gripen International acts as a prime contracting organisation and is responsible for marketing, selling and supporting the Gripen fighter around the world.

The aircraft is in service with the Swedish Air Force, the Czech Republic Air Force and the Hungarian Air Force, and has been ordered by the South African Air Force.

In October 2007 the Thai government decided to purchase the Gripen to replace the country's aging F-5 fleet.^[1][2]

Contents 1 Development 2 Design 2.1 Radar 2.2 Cockpit 3 Operational history 3.1 BAE Systems involvement 3.2 Thales involvement 3.3 Terma involvement 3.4 Potential sales 4 Variants 5 Operators 5.1 Current operators 5.2 Orders 6 Incidents 7 Specifications (JAS 39 Gripen A/B) 8 References 9 External links 10 Related content

The Gripen is designed for performance, flexibility, effectiveness and survivability in air combat. The designation JAS stands for Jakt (Air-to-Air), Attack (Air-to-Surface), and Spaning (Reconnaissance), indicating that the Gripen is a multirole aircraft that can fulfill each mission type. Gripen got its name in a public competition in 1982.^[3] The griffin is the heraldry on Saab's logo and suited the multi-role characteristics of the aircraft. Furthermore, the griffin is the symbolic animal on the coat of arms of Östergötland, the province in which Saab AB is headquartered (Linköping).

Sweden chose to develop the Gripen rather than purchase a variant of the F-16, F/A-18A/B, or the "F-5S" version of the Northrop F-20 Tigershark.

In April 2007, Norway signed an agreement on a joint development programme of the aircraft regarding co-operation in advanced development work on future versions of the aircraft. The value of the deal, which will allow Norwegian companies to take part, is about NOK 150 million over two years.^[4]

In designing the aircraft, several layouts were studied. Saab ultimately selected an unstable canard design. The canard configuration gives a high onset of pitch rate and low drag, enabling the aircraft to be faster, have longer range and carry a larger payload.

The combination of delta wing and canards gives the Gripen significantly better take-off and landing performance and flying characteristics. The totally integrated avionics make it a "programmable" aircraft. It also has a built-in electronic warfare unit, making it possible to load more ordnance onto the aircraft without losing self defence capabilities.

The Gripen affords more flexibility than earlier generations of combat aircraft used by Sweden, and its operating costs are about two thirds of those for JA 37 Viggen.

The specifications for the Gripen required the ability to operate from 800 m runways. Early on in the programme, all flights from Saab's facility in Linköping were flown from within a 9 m × 800 m outline painted on the runway. Stopping distance was reduced by extending the relatively large air brakes; using the control surfaces to push the aircraft down, enabling the wheel brakes to apply more force and tilting the canards forwards, making them into large air brakes and further pushing the aircraft down.

One interesting feature is the Gripen's ability to land on public roads, which is a part of Sweden's war defense strategy. Once on the ground, it can be refueled and re-armed in ten minutes by a five man mobile ground crew operating out of a truck, then take off again and resume flying sorties.

For the long-term future, Saab is reported to be looking at a new engine (such as the General Electric F414 or a thrust-vectoring version of the Eurofighter Typhoon EJ200 engine) and conformal fuel tanks or a fuselage stretch for greater range.^[5]

Main article: PS-05/A

The Gripen uses the modern PS-05/A pulse-doppler radar.

The cockpit has three full colour head down displays and digital emergency instrument presentation unique to the aircraft. The cockpit layout provides a human-machine interface that eases pilot workload substantially and increases situational awareness, but still provides substantial future growth potential.

The cockpit provides a display area some 30 per cent larger than that available in most other fighters, with the multi-function displays taking up around 75 per cent of available space.

It is dominated by three large (15.7 x 21 cm) active-matrix, liquid crystal, multi-function displays and a wide angle (20 x 28 degree) head-up display (HUD). The displays are equipped with light sensors for computer assisted brightness and contrast control.

Further enhancements to the cockpit and human-machine interface are planned. These include a ground-collision warning system, three-dimensional audio information, and direct voice input for control of various functions including navigation, radio and radar, plus fuel and weapon status inquiries. A direct voice input capability already exists within the existing audio management system.^[5]

For the long-term future, Saab is also reported to be looking at a wider angle head-up display, a binocular helmet-mounted display (HMD), and an advanced mission support system.^[5]

The Gripen is in operational service with the Swedish Air Force, which has ordered 204 aircraft (including 28 dual-seaters). The Czech Air Force and the Hungarian Air Force also operate the Gripen, and currently lease 14 Swedish Air Force aircraft each, with the option of eventually acquiring them. In both cases two of the aircraft are dual-seaters. The Czech and the Hungarian Air Force are the first Gripen operators within NATO. Gripen has also been ordered by the South African Air Force (28 aircraft, including nine dual-seaters). The British based Empire Test Pilots' School (ETPS) is operating Gripen as its advanced fast jet platform for test pilots worldwide.

In 1995, Saab Military Aircraft and British Aerospace (now BAE Systems) formed the joint venture company Saab-BAe Gripen AB, with the goal of adapting, manufacturing, marketing and supporting Gripen internationally. The deal was to take advantage of BAe's global marketing experience. BAe designed an improved wing, which they manufactured, producing approximately 45% of export airframes. BAe also saw the Gripen as a complementary product to its existing aircraft, fitting between its Hawk light attack/trainer and the larger Tornado and Typhoon fighters. This cooperation was extended in 2001 with the formation of Gripen International for the same purpose.

In December 2004, Saab and BAE agreed that from January 2005 Saab would take full responsibility for marketing of the Gripen in light of Saab's increased export marketing capabilities.

In June 2007 Thales Norway A/S and Saab signed a contract concerning the development of communications systems for the Gripen fighter. This order for the Norwegian company is the first to be awarded under the provisions of the Letter of Agreement signed by the Norwegian Department of Defence and Gripen International on 26 April 2007.^[4]

As part of Gripen International's marketing efforts in Denmark, a deal was signed in December 2007 with Danish technology supplier Terma A/S, which allows them to participate in an industrial co-operation programme over the next 10-15 years. The total value of the programme is estimated at over DKK 10 billion, and is partly dependent on Denmark choosing the Gripen.^[6]

The Croatian Air Force has announced plans to replace their MiG-21 bis aircraft, possibly with either the JAS 39 Gripen or the F-16 Falcon.^[7] A decision will be reached by 2008/2009.^{[citation needed]}

The Romanian Air Force has announced that they will replace their MiG-21 aircraft beginning in 2008, possibly with JAS 39 Gripen or Eurofighter Typhoon.^[8][9]

India has shown interest in evaluating the Gripen for its tender for 126 multi-role combat aircraft (see Indian MRCA Competition).

Other nations that are showing interest in the Gripen are Denmark, Norway, Slovakia, Chile, Brazil, Serbia among others.^[10]

Denmark has signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Defense Ministers of Sweden and Denmark to evaluate the Gripen, pending Denmark's future replacement of their fleet of 48 F-16s. Denmark has also requested for the new variants of Gripens to be developed. It will include the package of new avonics, a larger and more powerful engine, larger payload and, most importantly, longer range.

JAS 39A

Fighter version that first entered service in 1996. 31 of these will be upgraded to C/D standard.^[11]

JAS 39B

Two-seat version of the A variant.

JAS 39C

NATO-compatible version of Gripen with extended capabilities in terms of armament, electronics, etc.

JAS 39D

Two-seat version of the C variant.

JAS 39E/F

Planned versions for 2010 and after. Will have increased fuel capacity, higher payload, upgraded avionics and other improvements.^[11]

 Czech Republic

Czech Air Force: 14 Gripens on lease, including two dual-seaters.

 Hungary

Hungarian Air Force: 14 Gripens on lease, including two dual-seaters (C/D versions). The final three aircraft were delivered in December 2007.^[12]

 Sweden

Swedish Air Force: 204 aircraft ordered, including 28 dual-seaters (138 in service). 28 of the aircraft, including four dual-seaters, are leased to the Czech and Hungarian Air Forces. Some aircraft are yet to be delivered.

 United Kingdom

Empire Test Pilots' School: Under the current agreement, ETPS instructor pilots and students undergo simulator training with the Swedish Air Force, and go on to fly the dual-seater Gripen at Saab in Linköping, in two training campaigns per year (spring and autumn).

 South Africa

South African Air Force: 28 aircraft ordered, including nine dual-seaters. First delivery, a dual-seater, is scheduled in March 2008.^[13]

 Thailand

The Royal Thai Air Force has announced its intention to purchase the Gripen. Six aircraft will be ordered for delivery 2008-2012, with a potential additional six at a later date.^[1][2]

Main article: Accidents and incidents involving the JAS 39 Gripen

Five Gripens have crashed; one prototype, one production aircraft and three in service with the Swedish Air Force.

General characteristics

• Crew: 1–2
• Length: 14.1 m (46 ft 3 in)
• Wingspan: 8.4 m (27 ft 7 in)
• Height: 4.5 m (14 ft 9 in)
• Wing area: 25.54 m (274.9 ft)
• Empty weight: 6,620 kg (14,600 lb)
• Loaded weight: 8,720 kg (19,200 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 14,000 kg (31,000 lb)
• Powerplant: 1× Volvo Aero RM12 (GE F404) afterburning turbofan, 54 kN dry, 80 kN with afterburner (12,000 lbf / 18,100 lbf)
• Wheel track: 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in)

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 2
• Range: Combat radius 800 km, (500 mi), (430 NM). ()
• Service ceiling: 15,000 m (50,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)
• Wing loading: 341 kg/m² (70,3 lb/ft²)
• Thrust/weight: 0.94

Armament

• 1 × 27 mm Mauser BK-27 cannon
• 6 × Rb 74 or Rb 98
• 4 × Rb 99, Rb 71, MICA or Meteor
• 4 x Rb 75
• 2 x KEPD 350
• 4 x laser-guided bomb
• 4 x CRV7 rocket pod
• 2 x Rb 15F anti-ship missile
• 2 x Bk 90 cluster bomb

Notes

Bibliography

• Saab Gripen- Official website
• JAS-39 Gripen
• SAAB GRIPEN at Greg Goebel's Air Vectors
• Gripen on Czech army page

Comparable aircraft

• HAL Tejas
• Dassault Rafale
• Mig 29
• Dassault Mirage 2000
• F-16 Fighting Falcon
• FMA SAIA 90
• Northrop F-20 Tigershark
• Novi Avion
• JF-17

Designation sequence

• 32 - 35 - 37 - 39

Related lists

• List of fighter aircraft
• List of military aircraft of Sweden

See also

• Comparison of 21st century fighter aircraft
• Swedish Air Force

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