Saab JAS 39 Gripen

Type (Muster)
Milti-role fighter (Mehrzweck-Kampfflugzeug)

Country (Land)
Sweden (Schweden)

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Saab AB
S-58188 Linköping
Sweden

Phone: 0046-13/18-7000
Fax: 0046-13/18-1802 Official Swedish contractor for the Gripen is IG JAS. Partners are Saab AB Ericsson Microwave Systems, Ericsson Saab Avionics, Volvo Aero Corp. and FFV Aerotech.
International marketing is supported since 1995 by British Aerospace through Saab-BAe Gripen AB.

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 1 (2)

Weapons (Bewaffnung): As a multirole fighter, the Gripen can carry the following weapons and equipment on its eight hardpoints (two wingtips, two under each wing, one under fuselage, plus sensor-pod hardpoint under intake):

27 mm Mauser gun (internal)
2 x AIM-9 Sidewinder (RB 74) on the wingtips
4 x AIM-120 AMRAAM
4 x AGM-65A/B Maverick (RB 75)
2 x Saab RBS 15F anti-shipping missile
2 x Dasa DWS 39 munitions dispenser or KEPD 150 pods
4 x Bofors rocket pods
conventional or retarded bombs
reconnaissance and electronic warfare pods

Power plant (Antrieb): 1 x Volvo Aero Corporation RM12 (F404-GE-400)
Thrust (Schub): 54 kN (12150 lbs) dry and 80,5 kN (18100 lbs)with reheat

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Length (Länge): 14,1 m (14,75 m, two-seater JAS 39B)
Height (Höhe): 4,5 m
Span (Spannweite): 8,4 m
Wheel track (Spurweite): 2,4 m

Weights (Massen)
Operational empty weight (Einsatzleermasse): 7400 kg (7700 kg for the two-seater)
Max. external load (max. Außenlast): 4200 kg, to be raised to 5300 kg
Max. fuel (max. Kraftstoff): 2270 kg internal, plus three 1100 litre tanks on centreline and two wing stations
Take-off weight without external load (Starmasse ohne Außenlasten): approx. 8700 kg
Max. take-off weigth (Max. Startmasse): approx. 13000 kg, to be raised to 14000 kg

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Max. speed (max. Fluggeschwindigkeit): approx. Mach 1.8
Max. speed at low altitudes (Fluggeschw. in Bodennähe): Mach 1.15
Climb to 33000 ft (10060 m): 2 min
Climb to 46000 ft (14000 m): 3 min
Acceleration (Beschleunigung): 30 s from Mach 0.5 to Mach 1.1
Take-off field length (Startstrecke): approx. 400 m in basic fighter configuration
Landing field length (Landestrecke): approx. 500 m
Combat radius (Einsatzradius): approx. 800 km
Range with external tanks (Reichweite): 3000 km
Roll-rate (Rollrate): at least 250 deg/sec
g-limit (g-Limit): +9 g / - 3 g

Costs (Kosten)
In 1993, the Swedish parliament capped the programme at 60,2 billion Kroner.

Competitors (Konkurrenz)
Boeing F-18C/D
Dassault Mirage 2000
Lockheed Martin F-16
MAPO-MiG MiG-29

Customers (Kunden)
Sweden: The Flygvapnet will get 204 Gripens until 2007, after the latest lot-3-contract was signed by the Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) at the end of June 1997. This includes 176 single-seaters and 28 two-seaters, which are fully operational.
South Africa: The first export success for Gripen came on 18. November 1998, when the South African Government announced that the JAS 39, jointly marketed by Saab and British Aerospace, was selected as the new fighter for the SAAF in a wide-ranging rearmament programme. Negotiations then started for 28 aircraft valued at 10,9 billion Rand. There are extensive counter-trade and industrial participation deals attached. Final contract signature was on 3 December 1999. There is a firm order for nine JAS 39B two-seaters, to be delivered from 2007. 19 options for single-seaters are due to be handed over from 2012.

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
The Gripen is the first and so far only European fighter of the fourth generation to enter service. It will replace all Drakens and Viggens in Flygvapnet service and will cover fighter, attack and reconnaissance roles (JAS = Jakt, Attack, Spaning). It is claimed to have "swing-role" capability, i.e. it can switch roles while in the air. Hallmarks of the JAS 39 design are:

cropped delta wing with large canards
highly sophisticated, triplex fly-by-wire system from Lockheed Martin to allow unstable aerodynamic configuration.
modern systems with lots of self test for easy operation and maintenance. Also, costs are lower than with the Viggen. Able to operate from road bases.
cockpit with optimized man-machine interface. Features include mini-stick in the center, HOTAS philosophy, wide-angle head-up display, three displays (monochrome CRTs at the moment, to be changed for larger, full colour LCDs later)
equipped to gain "information superiority". There is a very sophisticated datalink
powerful PS-05/A radar, built by Ericsson
use of carbonfibre and other modern materials to bring weight down

There is a two-seat variant available, designated JAS 39B (see photo). It has a lengthened fuselage (0,65 m) to accomodate a second cockpit under a revised canopy. Also, some systems are rearranged, and there is no Mauser cannon fitted.

History (Geschichte)
After government approval of the programme on 6 May 1982, development of the Gripen began on June 30, with an FMV contract for five prototypes and 30 production JAS 39, plus an option for 110. Test runs of the RM12 engine were conducted in January 1985, while the HuD was tested on a Viggen from February 1987.
Roll-out of the first prototype was on 26. April 1987, but first flight did not occur until 9. December 1988, with Stig Holmström at the controls. This aircraft was lost in a landing accident on 2 February 1989 due to problems with the fly-by-wire system.
Testing was restarted on 4. May 1990 with prototype 39-2. 39-4 followed on 20 December 1990, 39-3 on 25. March 1991 and 39-5 on 23. October 1991. To make up for the loss, the first production aircraft was eramarked for the test programme as well. It flew on 4 March 1993, but crashed on 8 August during a display at Stockholm, again due to fly-by-wire problems exacerbated by pilot induced oscillations. By 22 December 1995, 2000 flights had been completed.
Meanwhile, a second batch of 110 aircraft, including 14 two-seaters, was approved in June 1992. The final 64 aircraft of batch 3 got its approval in parliament on 13 December 1996 and was signed on 26 June 1997. Deliveries are to run until 2007, and despite recent plans for drastic defence cuts, it seems that the Gripen order is safe for the time being.
The first batch of 30 aircraft was delivered by Saab from 1993 to 1996. F7 wing was designated as the first Gripen unit and began maintenance training at Linköping in May 1994. The pilot training centre at Satenäs was officially opened on 9 June 1996. The second squadron of F7 then achieved IOC in the autumn of 1997. The first squadron followed in 1998, and now F10 at Ängelholm is converting to the Gripen. Next to come is F16 at Uppsala.
A two-seater variant with lengthened fuselage rolled out at Linköping on 29 September 1995. It made its maiden flight on 29. April 1996. The first production two-seater flew on 22 November 1996. Deliveries began in mid-1998.
To push international marketing, Saab signed a co-operation deal with British Aerospace on 12 June 1995 at the Paris Air Show. Target countries include Austria, Brazil, Chile, the Czech Republic, Hungary, the Philippines, and Poland.
The first export success was clinched in South Africa, when the Government announced the selection of the JAS 39 over the Dassault Mirage 2000-5 in November 1998. Negotiations for the deal continued for much of 1999. In September, the Government in Pretoria reaffirmed the buy, and a deal was finally signed on 3. December 1999 for nine two-seaters with options on 19 single-seaters. Deliveries will begin in 2007.
The first loss of a Gripen in operational service occured on 20 September 1999, when an aircraft from F7 crashed into Lake Vanern. The pilot ejected and was picked up by a rescue helicopter.
Progressive improvements of the Gripen are planned, like better computers, colour displays, optional in-flight refuelling etc.
The first air-to-air refuelling trials took place in early November 1998 over the Irish sea. The Gripen linked with an RAF VC 10 tanker with a crew from DERA.

Last updated 12. May 2000

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