Nordic threat to JSF as Denmark and Norway consider Swedish fighter

Flight International ^ | 07/11/06 | Evan Sweetman

[sukhoi-30mki]

© Gripen International (Modified by Tim Bircheno-Brown)

[Red6]

Of all newer options out there, the Grippen is the weakest link.

[Anti-Bubba182]

Doesn't look stealthy.

[sukhoi-30mki]

being the weak(est) link does have it's advantages for some buyers.....

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Sven and Ole will do the maintenance.

[RayChuang88]

The Saab JAS 39 Gripen has actually done quite well once they got their bugs out of the fly-by-wire system in the late 1990's. The plane is relatively cheap and uses very modern electronics.

[sukhoi-30mki]

Saab & BAE systems are supposedly planning to upgun it's engine for more thrust & also add conformal fuel tanks among other improvements to help it compete better with the Rafale & EF-2000 & even the JSF while remaining a cheaper option.

[RayChuang88]

I'd like to know is Saab going to allow Volvo Aero to build a licensed version of the GE F414-GE-400 engine (used on the F-18E/F models) for the upgraded Gripen.

[sukhoi-30mki]

The F-414 & the EJ-200 are the 2 most likely contenders for powering an enhanced Gripen,possibly with thrust vectoring nozzles since the EF-2000 is scheduled to get those itself after 2010 or so.

Don't know about license building new engines since Sweden may not place a lot of orders for a modified aircraft anytime soon.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

airplane ping.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

How would you compare it to the French one?

[RayChuang88]

The Gripen is cheaper than the Rafale, mostly because it uses one engine instead of two.

[EQAndyBuzz]

As far as killabililty(don't laugh) how does the Gripen compare the the F35?

[Renfield]

A Gripen with that much ordnance aboard would have a range of about 3 nautical miles. It doesn't carry much fuel.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Much appreciated. So, quantity over quality?

[Red6]

The Gripen has a single 18000 pound F404 as it's heart. No stealth, no AESA........ It's an off the shelf fighter that is weak, brings no new inovation or capabilities to the fight. The EF or Rafale are potent late 4th gen platform, like an F18E. The Gripen is not even that. Poland bought a more capable platform with a Viper, and that's no over exaggeration.

[Red6]

Bottom line - 18,000 pounds of thrust (1/2 of an F18C as we use them, same engine in fact) limits the design of the Gripen.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Much appreciated.

[Dreagon]

The gripen is the choice of countries who never intend to use them anyways.

[sukhoi-30mki]

The variants being offered to these 2 countries-the Gripen 'N' & 'DK' will be enhanced versions as per the Gripen website-else they wouldn't stand a chance.The improvements potentially include a new engine,fuselage stretch as well as Conformal fuel tanks & an AESA radar(or a foreign system),which Ericsson is working on.These should answer many of the shortcomings the original Gripen has.