One question for Saab’s Gripen Next Generation (NG) project has always been: Why should export customers buy an aircraft when its home customer has not committed to it? In discussions in June at Saab’s Linkoping, Sweden, headquarters, it became apparent that the NG is firmly in national defense plans, but a formal announcement is being delayed for domestic reasons.

“Sweden has committed to using the Gripen beyond 2040,” says Hans Rosen, head of Gripen marketing and campaigns. “The question is when to acquire the Gripen NG, and how many.” The program calls for the new variant to enter Swedish service around 2018, but Sweden has told export customers—some of which expect deliveries in 2014—that it will adjust its schedule so Sweden deploys the NG before they do.

Rosen’s comments on the future of the Gripen in Sweden echoed remarks made by Defense Minister Sten Tolgfors at an air power conference at Malmen in June. Tolgfors said modernization of the Gripen force is proceeding according to plan with conversion of a final batch of 31 JAS 39A models to the 39C standard.

This leaves the air force with 100 fighters, fewer than at any time during or since the Cold War. Sweden will offset the reduction by maintaining the force at a high technical standard. The next step will see all JAS 39C/D fighters modernized to a common configuration known as Materiel Standard (MS) 20, already under contract. Also approved is the integration of a new radar-guided missile, the MBDA Meteor, regarded by Saab as a massive improvement in lethality over the AIM-120C advanced medium-range air-to-air missile.

The next configuration, MS 21, is being defined, but it is clear that MS 21 is in fact the NG, with the General Electric F414G engine; modified airframe; Selex Galileo Raven ES-05 active, electronically scanned array (AESA) radar; Skyward-G infrared search and track (IRST) system; and new core avionics. Selex’s Raven 1000P radar prototype is flying on the Gripen Demo and a ground rig is testing the innovative avionics in which flight-critical functions are partitioned so mission capabilities can be added more quickly through the fighter’s life.

The government is funding development of the definitive NG, which the independent defense procurement agency FMV calls JAS 39E/F. (A contract for the avionics system was issued in May.) The production version will have a larger wingspan and area, and the landing gear will be fully integrated with the wing (on the Demo, gear loads are taken through the wing and fuselage). Maximum takeoff weight has been increased (compared with earlier NG proposals) by 1,100 lb. to 36,400 lb.

The upgrade to the new airframe is logical for the Swedish air force. Putting the heavier AESA, plus Meteor and IRST on the C/D would reduce range and speed. However, the smaller fighter force means there are only three fighter bases, each covering a larger area. Since air defense is a primary mission, the air force wants longer reach in its fighters. JAS 39E/F provides that not only through greater range, but with supercruise—sustained Mach 1.2+ on military power with an air-to-air weapons load—that allows the fighter to reach a threat more quickly and with higher energy. Raven, Skyward-G and 4-8 Meteor air-to-air missiles also allow a threat to be identified and engaged at greater range.

Saab takes a long view of the Gripen program, Rosen says, and is confident of continued Swedish support and further export sales regardless of the outcome of competitions in Brazil, India and Switzerland. Although many regard Gripen as an outsider in the fighter business, it has won more export competitions than Rafale, Typhoon or Super Hornet.

The Demo prototype completed 152 flight-test sorties by mid-June, Rosen said, and a successful demonstration in India in May (the company previously performed demonstrations with the C/D version in India), including a landing and engine restart at Leh airfield in Kashmir, 10,800 ft. above sea level.

Credit: Saab