Jon LakeSaab is keen to describe the _JAS 39 Gripen as being the world's most cost-effective fourth generation swing-role fighter, and the first to enter service. The Swedish air force, with two Gripen wings operational, and 16,000 missions flown, is well qualified to assess the aircraft's operating costs, reliability and maintainability. The company today released official FMV figures for the Gripen, including a mean time between failures (MTBF) of 7.6 flying hours, a mean time to repair (MTTR) of 2.5 hours, and a maintenance man hour per flying hour (MMH/FH) figure of 10:1. Total direct operating costs, including all levels of maintenance and fuel are $2,000 per flying hour. The aircraft can be operationally turned around in only 10 minutes in the fighter role, or 20 minutes in the fighter ground attack role. The export version of the Gripen differs from the baseline JAS 39 now in service by having English language instruments, displays and technical publications, OBOGS (Onboard Oxygen Generating System) and a neat retractable inflight refuelling probe. Saab claims the aircraft has the world's most advanced tactical datalink, which is being refined and modified to be full NATO Link 16 compatible, and has an integrated electronic warfare suite.
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Changing Swedish air force requirements means many of these features will be incorporated on Sweden's third batch of aircraft, leading to enhanced commonality between the domestic and export versions of the Gripen. Saab is coy about the flyaway cost of the aircraft, but is keen to stress its competitiveness with the rival Lockheed Martin F-16C on initial unit price, while pointing out that support and through-life costs are very much lower.
Source: Flight Daily News
