FLUG REVUE December 2002: First JAS 39C Gripen delivered

SAAB DELIVERS THE FIRST JAS 39C GRIPEN

By Karl Schwarz

In June 1996, Sweden was the first country to put a fourth-generation multi-role fighter into service. Since then, the JAS 39 Gripen has more than proved itself. The small, single-engined jet with delta wings and canards excels above all else in its easy handling, high reliability (7.5 flying hours between failures), low maintenance requirements (less than 10 man-hours per flying hour) and low operating costs ($2,500 per flying hour).

Despite all this good news, Saab is certainly not resting on its laurels. Since development of the Gripen began in the early 1980s, advances in electronics, in particular, have been meteoric. Thus, the contract awarded in June 1997 for a third batch of 64 JAS 39C/D´s included a number of enhancements that are not only of interest to the Swedish Air Force but will also benefit export customers.

Saab JAS 39C Gripen

The JAS 39C, the first prototype of which was handed over to the Swedish procurement office (FMV) in Linköping on 6 September, distinguishes itself from the JAS 39A through the following changes, amongst others:

New instrument panel with colour displays instead of monochrome. This will enable the tactical situation to be better presented to the pilot. The 15.7cm x 21cm active matrix liquid crystal displays from L-3 Communication in the USA offer 70% more display surface. The display computer is divided into two sections, each of which controls two screens, thus achieving a certain amount of redundancy. There are no analogue standby instruments. Nevertheless, the instrument panel cover has had to be raised, with the result that the pilot's field of vision has been reduced by around 3%. The small control stick has also been moved slightly back. The cockpit is now designed for use with night vision goggles.
Improved software.
Retractable in-flight refuelling probe. This is located by the left-hand air inlet. Up to now the only refuelling to have been tried has been from a Royal Air Force VC 10, during which no difficulties were encountered. Trials with South African Boeing 707 tankers are next on the schedule. Sweden itself does not have any tankers of its own at present, but it could equip some C-130 Hercules with refuelling pods so as to at least permit training flights.
Reinforced wings and stronger undercarriage. These modifications will enable heavy stand-off weapons to be carried as well. For the export version, Saab is offering a service life of 8,000 flying hours, whereas the more demanding Swedish mission profile envisages a service life of 4000 hours.
New NATO standard weapon pylons .
An Onboard Oxygen Generation System (OBOGS) is replacing the liquid oxygen tanks. The air breathed by the pilot will now be generated from engine bleed air.
New APU from Hamilton Sundstrand. This will replace the Microturbo APU previously installed, whose excessive noise was the subject of much criticism.

As well as the newly built JAS 39C's to be delivered to the Swedish Air Force by 2007, the last 20 aircraft of the second production batch will also largely be to batch 3 standard. This will eliminate the costs of a later upgrade, so that Saab will collect a bonus.

The export version of the Gripen will be almost identical. In actual fact the requirements of the international market were an important, accelerating factor in the development of the JAS 39C (see box on foreign purchasers of the Gripen).

Development of the Gripen will naturally not end with the JAS 39C. Instead, this version will constitute the basis for the gradual introduction of further improved systems in the next 10 to 15 years. This will enable the jet to keep up with the important role envisaged for it in net-centric warfare and to keep abreast of the international competition.

As yet there are no precise schedules or financing plans for the further enhancement of the JAS 39C's performance, but possible new systems have already been defined. These include:

Iris-T, a new, super-agile short-range guided missile for air combat, which is currently under development by a consortium headed by BGT.
A helmet display for the pilot, enabling him to direct guided missiles like Iris-T onto targets in all directions. Initial flight tests with the Guardian System from Pilkington Optronics were carried out at the beginning of 2001. This helmet, on which Denel and Kentron are also working, is to be integrated into the South African Gripen.
Meteor, a new European long-range air-to-air guided missile, programme launch of which, however, has not yet taken place.
OTIS, an internal FLIR system that is to be installed directly in front of the cockpit.
NINS, a new navigation system that combines the information from GPS, INS, digital map and radar altimeter for optimal precision in flight guidance and allows autonomous instrument approaches.
A radar antenna with active transmit/receive modules which, thanks to electronic beam steering, will allow new operational modes. Ericsson Microwave Systems has already been working for some years on such systems and plans to have completed a full, flight-capable prototype by 2004. The programme has been named NORA (not only a radar), as it will also integrate electronic warfare (EW) functions. The plan is to install an antenna with around 1,000 transmit/receive modules that can be moved horizontally, so as to produce a viewing angle of 200º.
Improved EW systems, including a missile warning system, a laser warning system and a towed decoy. FMV has already studied several available devices. Meanwhile Ericsson Microwave Systems is working on the Multifunctional Defensive Avionics System (MIDAS) demonstrator system, which is soon to be tested in flight on a business jet.
Conformal fuselage-mounted auxiliary tanks that will increase range by 15%.

FMV has already ordered new reconnaissance pods costing Euro 66 million. The main contractor here is Saab Avionics, which is to deliver eight Modular Reconnaissance Pod (MRP) systems from 2004. The MRPs are based on a development from Terma A/S in Denmark that is in service on the F-16 in several countries. However, that variant has a semicircular cross-section. Digital cameras for medium and high altitude missions are to be fitted early on for the Swedish Air Force. There will also be a conventional camera for maritime reconnaissance. Preparations are under way for installation of a datalink.

The Gripen thus has a lot of potential. After the Viggen is taken out of service towards the end of this decade, it will serve the Swedish Air Force as fighter, fighter bomber, for deployment against surface vessels and also as a reconnaissance aircraft. And it will also play an important role on the international fighter market for some years to come – at least, that is what Saab and its partner BAE Systems are hoping.

From page 40 of FLUG REVUE 12/2002

Successes and defeats in the export market

Saab and BAE Systems have been trying to find new customers for the Gripen since 1995. Gripen International, as the 50/50 joint venture company has been called since 2001, is relying here above all on an attractive price combined with ample scope for offset deals and long-term financing offers – guaranteed to appeal to potential customers who are notoriously hard-up. So far the Gripen has been involved in half a dozen fighter competitions, with varying degrees of success:

* South Africa was the first export customer for the Gripen, won in November 1998. The contract was signed on 3 December 1999. However, firm orders were placed for only nine two-seaters for delivery from 2007. Options were also taken out for 18 single-seaters from 2012. One of the beneficiaries of the transaction is Denel, which already produces landing gear sections for all the JAS 39's. At the end of September the first rear fuselage to be supplied by South Africa was delivered to Sweden.

* Hungary signed a leasing contract with FMV on 20 December 2001 for twelve single-seaters and two two-seaters, which are to be in service for ten years from the end of 2004, following which they could be purchased. The leasing charges have not been disclosed, but the deal also includes training for 15 pilots, along with the provision of maintenance equipment and documentation, but no weapons. However, the Hungarians are paying Euro 110 million to Saab simply for the necessary technical modifications (IFF, Have-Quick radios, software modifications, new inscriptions etc.).
On the other hand Hungarian industry is profiting from guaranteed offset transactions worth at least 100% of the order value. According to Gripen International, $661 million of "pre-offsets” had already been implemented before the contract was signed.

* The Czech Republic announced its decision to purchase the Gripen on 10 December 2001 – the government had virtually no alternative, as the other competitors had bowed out in view of the horrendous offset requirements. 24 aircraft were due to be delivered commencing in 2004. The Czechs demanded offset transactions worth 150 percent of the order value, half of them already in the first two years following signing of contracts. However, the deal has since collapsed. To start with, the controversial Euro 1.6 billion programme narrowly failed to overcome the parliamentary hurdles. Then, after the new elections in June and the flood catastrophe in August, the new government announced that there was no money available and that it was studying alternatives to a purchase.

* Austria selected the Eurofighter in the summer, to everyone's surprise. But the new elections to be held at the end of November following the collapse of the government could change the situation completely. "We are prepared to submit a new proposal that takes into account the changed requirements,” says Roger Lantz, Gripen Director in Austria. According to Gripen International, the originally planned 24 aircraft, including logistics and spare parts, would have cost Euro 1.791 billion (with part payments commencing in 2005) or alternatively a reduced price of Euro 1.36 billion, with payment commencing in 2002.

* The Brazilian F-X competition is currently on ice, with decisions not expected until after the election of a new President. Here the Gripen is up against the Mirage 2000, the F-16 and the Su-30. As Embraer has paired up with Dassault, Gripen International is working through VEM-VARIG, the maintenance subsidiary of the Brazilian airline. It would provide long-term logistics support.

* Poland is undertaking a new initiative for the procurement of up to 48 new fighter aircraft worth around Euro 3.8 billion. The invitation to tender was issued in July, and a decision could apparently be made by the end of the year. As usual, Saab and BAE Systems are relying on generous offers of offsets. According to the company, activities worth $60 million have already got under way.

Last updated 4 November 2002

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