The Swedish air force (Flygvapen) will commit to the new Saab Gripen NG early in order to support development of the aircraft in the event of an order from Norway, says Colonel Torgny Falthammar, head of Swedish armed forces air combat requirements.
Saab’s JAS 39 Gripen continues to provide the Flygvapen’s backbone, despite drastic cuts to the force, which now has just four frontline squadrons. A major restructuring plan will see the fleet of 143 Gripens cut to just 70 JAS 39C and 30 JAS 39D versions by the end of 2012.
This will require the conversion of 31 first-generation JAS 39As and JAS 39Bs by 2012 – some of them going from single-seat A models to two-seat Ds. Those JAS 39As and JAS 39Bs not upgraded will be retired or sold to export customers.
The air force had planned to move to the new JAS 39E and two-seat JAS 39F standards by 2025 through conversion of existing Cs and Ds, but Falthammar said if Norway selects the Gripen N, Sweden would need to procure some 8-10 JAS 39E/F aircraft much earlier for a common operational evaluation programme. These aircraft would probably be new-build, and would kick-start Gripen NG exports.
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Meanwhile, the core JAS 39C and JAS 39D fleet is being progressively upgraded under a rolling ‘block’ upgrade programme. Ronneby-based Gripen Squadrons of F17 already use the Terma-built, Saab Avionics developed SPK-39 reconnaissance pod.
The squadrons of F21 at Lulea use Litening laser designation pods and Paveway laser guided bombs, primarily for close air support.
Not all in-service JAS 39Cs and JAS 39Ds are equipped with the Gripen’s EWS39 integrated electronic warfare suite, though there are already sufficient LRUs to ensure any aircraft deploying on operations or exercise will be fully equipped.
The Block 19 standard, scheduled to be fielded during the Autumn of 2009, will introduce Link 16 and the new IRIS-T IR-homing air-to-air missile as well as the Cobra helmet-mounted sight. Block 20, due in 2012, includes improved PS 05/A radar modes (including SAR mapping), enhanced Link 16 functionality and an L-3 Communications Rover data link for the Litening laser designation pod.
Source: Flight International
