As a neutral country with a long history of providing for its own defense
against all comers, Sweden also has a long tradition of building excellent
high-performance fighters with a distinctive look. From the long-serving
Saab-35 Draken (“Dragon,”
1955-2005) to the Mach 2, canard-winged
Saab-37 Viggen
(“Thunderbolt,” 1971-2005), Swedish fighters have stressed short-field launch
from dispersed/improvised air fields, world-class performance, and leading-edge
design. This record of consistent project success is nothing short of amazing
for a country whose population over this period has ranged from 7-9 million
people.
This is DID’s FOCUS Article for background, news, and contract awards related
to the JAS-39 Gripen (“Griffon”), a canard-winged successor to the Viggen that
was built as one of the world’s first 4+ generation fighters.
Gripen remains the only lightweight 4+
generation fighter type in service, its performance and operational economics
are both world-class, and it has become one of the most recognized fighter
aircraft on the planet. Unfortunately for its builders, that recognition has
come from its appearance in Saab and Volvo TV commercials, rather than from
hoped-for levels of military export success. With its 4+ generation competitors
clustered in the $60-120+ million range vs. the Gripen’s claimed $40 million/
$50-60 million for Gripen NG, is there a light at the end of the tunnel for
Sweden’s lightweight fighter?
JAS-39: The Gripen Program
JAS-39 Gripen cutaway
The Industry Group JAS (IG JAS) is the joint venture partnership that
develops the Gripen System for the Swedish Armed Forces. Partners included in IG
JAS are Saab Volvo Aero Corporation and Ericsson Microwave Systems, but Saab has
recently announced the intent to acquire its partner in a deal expected to close
in September 2006. The development and production of the Gripen has been one of
Sweden’s largest industry projects, consuming up to one-third of the Swedish
defense budget in some years.
The first JAS-39s were delivered in 1993, and the last Swedish
plane was due to be delivered in 2007. While exact figures are extremely
difficult to come by, sources place the average flyaway cost of the JAS-39 at
about $40 million
1
per plane, or about $50 million in current dollars. The whole Gripen production
run for all customers, according to current orders, will reach 261 aircraft.
This consists of:
6 prototypes (5 single-seat, 1 two-seat)
29 JAS-39A Batch 1s
(Sweden)
76 JAS-39A Batch 2s (Sweden)
14 JAS-39B two-seater Batch 2s
(Sweden)
20 JAS-39C Batch 2s (Sweden)
50 JAS-39C Batch 3s (Sweden)
12
Gripen Cs (Czech Republic)
14 JAS-39D two-seater Batch 3s (Sweden)
2
Gripen D two-seaters (Czech Republic)
17 Gripen Cs (South Africa)
9 Gripen
D two-seaters (South Africa)
12 Gripen C/D (Thailand)
The leased Hungarian Gripen C/Ds (12 JAS-39C and 2 JAS-39D) are rebuilt
Swedish Batch 1 and 2 aircraft. Additional Gripens have also been delivered to
the multinational UK Empire Test Pilot’s School as their fast jet platform, and
6 JAS-39C/D aircraft have been ordered by Thailand, with an option for another
6.
The Gripen is an excellent lightweight fighter by all accounts, with
attractive flyaway costs and performance. Its canard design allows for quick
“slew and point” maneuvers, allowing it to take full advantage of the modern
trend toward helmet-mounted displays, and air-air missiles with much wider
boresight targeting cones. Power to weight ratio is good, some “radar profile
shaping” techniques have been employed to reduce its signature, and its physical
size can also make it a difficult target.
The Gripen has one other asset that is often overlooked: very attractive
lifetime operational costs. Each new generation of fighters has proven to be
more expensive than its predecessors to operate and maintain, and this is one
aspect of the procurement spiral that forces smaller aircraft orders with each
new generation of equipment. The JAS-39 was designed from the outset to counter
this trend, and lifetime operating costs were given a high priority when making
design and equipment decisions.
Equipment commonality and choice are also strengths. Its engine is a
derivative of GE’s F404, in wide use on F/A-18 A-D Hornets and many other
platforms. A wide variety of international equipment has successfully been
tested and integrated with the aircraft including sensors, targeting pods (the
LITENING
III pod comes as a standard option) and an array of weapons, most recently
the MBDA Meteor long-range ramjet air-air missile.
On the industrial front, Saab’s international marketing deal with BAE gave
the Swedish aircraft wide global representation, but conflicts of interest and
BAE divestitures have left Saab handling international sales. Ties to its parent
firms like Investor AB allow it to offer an attractive program of industrial
offsets to potential owners.
Hungary is one such customer. Their industrial development program has gone
very well, and in September 2007 they
described
their experiences at Exercise Spring Flag 2007, held in May at Italy’s
Decimomannu air base in Sardinia with combat assets from France (E-3 AWACS),
Germany (F-4F ICE), Italy (AV-8B Harrier, F-16C, Tornado ECR and
Eurofighter
Typhoon), NATO (E-3 AWACS), and Turkey (F-16C) with tanker support from
Italy, the UK and the US. The Gripen’s 100% sortie rate was impressive, and it
also generated some interesting comments from Hungarian Air Force Colonel Nandor
Kilian:
“In Hungary we just don’t have large numbers
of aircraft to train with, but in Spring Flag we faced COMAO (combined air
operations) packages of 20, 25 or 30 aircraft. The training value for us was to
work with that many aircraft on our radar – and even with our limited experience
we could see that the Gripen radar is fantastic. We would see the others at long
ranges, we could discriminate all the individual aircraft even in tight
formations and using extended modes. The jamming had almost no effect on us –
and that surprised a lot of people.
Other aircraft couldn’t see us – not on radar, not visually2
– and we had no jammers of our own with us. We got one Fox 2 kill3
on a F-16 who turned in between our two jets but never saw the second guy and it
was a perfect shot.
Our weapons and tactics were limited by Red Force rules, and in an
exercise like this the Red Force is always supposed to die, but even without our
AMRAAMs
and data links we got eight or 10 kills, including a Typhoon. Often we had no
AWACS or radar support of any kind, just our regular onboard sensors – but
flying like that, ‘free hunting,’ we got three kills in one afternoon. It was a
pretty good experience for our first time out.”
To keep the basic Gripen relevant, block upgrades occur about every 3 years.
Block 19, due in 2009, integrates IRIS-T SRAAM (Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile),
NATO’s Link-16 in addition to Gripen’s own shared awareness datalink, and the
Cobra helmet-mounted sight. Block 20 in 2012 is expected to include enhancements
to the PS-05/A radar, and the
ROVER
close-air-support data link used with such success by American forces..
Unfortunately, the Gripen has lost out or been absent from consideration in
important export competitions in Austria (Eurofighter), Finland (F-18), Poland
(F-16), Switzerland (F-18, but second opportunity now), and
Singapore
(F-15SG Strike Eagle to replace A-4 Skyhawks). A number of potential
opportunities are detailed below, but existing orders will not keep the JAS-39
in production past 2012. Meanwhile, Sweden may be about to downsize its Gripen
force to 100 JAS-39 C/D aircraft, flooding the market with second-hand models
and choking new production opportunities. All this in a market where export
orders overall have been below Saab’s expectations.
Can the Gripen production line survive?
A number of factors could be cited as reasons for Saab finding itself in this
situation: purchasing slowdowns across the industry, the inertia of existing
relationships and equipment standardization, Sweden’s lack of geopolitical
weight in contrast to countries like the USA, France or Russia. In Singapore’s
case, its status as a single engine lightweight fighter with limited range also
hurt it – as did its partner BAE’s greater interest in promoting its own
Eurofighter.
Still, the bottom line is that the Gripen was dependent on exports for
profitability, as a result of the unprofitable contract it signed with the
Swedish government. The government’s ability to assist with foreign export
orders has proven to be very limited, and envisaged export orders have been more
in line with skeptics’ predictions rather than corporate hopes.
JAS-39NG: A Way Forward?
One way forward is through upgrades. The JAS-39s on offer to Denmark, India,
the Netherlands, Norway, and others all offer a number of important improvements
beyond the present C/D versions.
Regardless of the exact upgrade sets offered, the hope remains the same: that
appropriate upgrades would allow the Gripen to continue to offer better
performance and features than the F-16 and MiG-29, including new variants like
Russia’s new thrust-vectoring
MiG-35 and Lockheed’s
AESA-equipped
F-16
Block 60 “Desert Falcon” flown by the UAE. At the same time, goes this
thinking, upgrades would allow the Gripen to compete on more even terms with
more expensive fighters like the Rafale, F/A-18 Super Hornet, etc. In those
competitions, Gripen would be positioned as a lower-budget option with “close
enough” capabilities overall, and outright advantages in key areas.
That competitiveness is essential. Like France’s Rafale, which also depended
on exports to finance its ongoing development, the Gripen is finding itself
dependent on home government handouts in order to remain technologically
competitive. That’s less than ideal, but given the Gripen and Rafale’s status as
the future backbones of their respective national air forces,
non-competitiveness is hardly an option. Absent further foreign sales,
therefore, the question for both aircraft is how badly future upgrade costs will
eat into their home market’s fighter procurement and maintenance budgets. Which
explains Saab’s eagerness to escape this trap.
Saab approach to Gripen NG was a departure from past practice. Instead of
selecting key technologies and modifying them to become proprietary, as was the
case for the F404 engine (Volvo RB12), Gripen NG will use far more “off the
shelf” parts. Its new engine will feature minimal changes, and so the upgraded
engine is expected to cost 20% less than the its RB12 predecessor. Suppliers
like Honeywell and Rockwell were reportedly asked provide their products, and
let Saab handle integration. There are even rumors that Saab’s NG may embrace
the same HMDS pilot helmet used on the
F-35;
existing Gripens currently use
Saab’s
Cobra.
The first set of chosen enhancements will improve the pilot’s situational
awareness.
An IRST (infra-red search and track) system will improve target detection,
without running the risk that the Gripen will reveal itself by emitting
detectable electro-magnetic energy. IRST systems are useful against some ground
targets, and all aerial targets. They especially enhance performance against
opponents with “low observable” radar stealth enhancements, by giving their
pilot additional detection and targeting options. If medium-long range infrared
guided missiles like MICA-IR or NCADE are integrated in Gripen at some future
date, the IRST system will even provide missile guidance beyond visual range,
without triggering the target’s radar warning receivers.
Link 16 is the other major situational awareness upgrade for Gripen Demo/NG.
Gripens already come with a proprietary datalink that allows them to see the
same picture of the battlefield, but the NATO Link-16 standard adds the ability
to share with other aircraft, air defense radars, ships, etc. (see June 11/07
entry, below).
Integration of
an
AESA radar in place of the present mechanically-scanned PS-05 is an
important future selling point, and has been promised in several of Saab’s
recent foreign bid submissions. Development has been less smooth.
Saab
bought Ericsson’s radar group, which makes the Erieye AWACS radar, and began
the
“Nora” AESA
project in 2006. In autumn 2007, Saab changed course and began a radar
partnership with Thales for the RBE2-AA AESA radar that will equip Dassault’s
Rafale.
Then Dassault bought a large stake in Thales, and scuttled the deal in order to
cripple a competitor. Saab is now partnered with Selex Galileo to design an
ES-05 Raven AESA radar that builds on Selex’s experience with the Vixen 500
AESA, and Ericsson’s PS-05 MESA and Nora experiments. The new radar will use an
active electronically scanned array that can be moved mechanically, increasing
its total field of view and improving “lock and leave” maneuvers.
Electronic warfare enhancements are also a component of situational awareness
these days. Upgrades to this existing capability are not a major addition, but
they do help keep the platform current.
Mechanical upgrades are in the works, too.
One of the Gripen’s handicap’s against competing fighters has been its range.
A 38% jump in internal fuel capacity will help to offset weight and power
increases, while extending the aircraft’s combat air patrol radius to 1,300 km/
812 miles, and boosting unrefueled range to 2,500 km/ 1,560 miles. The landing
gear is repositioned to accommodate those extra fuel cells. A payload increase
from 8 to 10 underbody pylons for weapons and fuel also adds to the Gripen’s
range, by allowing more external drop tanks. A new underwing 1,700 litre (450
gallon) fuel tank has been flown, and supersonic drop-tanks will also be tested
in the future. With the full set of drop tanks, the JAS-39NG’s total flight
range is expected to reach 4,075 km/ 2,810 miles.
Hauling all of that around will require a more powerful engine than the
current RM12
variant of GE’s popular F404.
GE’s F414,
produced
in
partnership with Volvo Aero and in use on the Super Hornet, has already been
selected for that requirement. It offers a 25-35% power boost over its
predecessor the F404, and the developmental F414 EPE could offer another 20%
thrust increase over that in future. Key F414G alterations for the Gripen will
include minor changes to the alternator for added aircraft power, and modified
Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC) software that’s modified for
single-engine operation, instead of the F/A-18 Super Hornet’s twin-engine
configuration.
For now, Saab Group remains on track with the basic Gripen NG program.
In July 2006, Saab received a SEK 1 billion contract from the Swedish
government (about $150 million) to improve the aircraft, and develop “Gripen
Demo/NG”. This was later followed by a NOK 150 million (about $25 million)
agreement with Norway in April 2007, and a set of industrial partnerships with
key suppliers.
At present, Saab is leading a team of “Gripen Demo/NG” partners that include:
- Saab Aerosystems (Prime contractor and lead system integrator)
- Saab Microwave Systems (Raven AESA radar)
- Swedish government/FMV (financing and advisory)
- General Electric together with Volvo Aero (modified F414 engine)
- APPH
- Finmeccanica subsidiary Selex Galileo (Raven AESA radar)
- Honeywell
- Martin-Baker (ejection seats)
- Meggit
- Rockwell Collins
- Terma A/S
- Thales (IFF, Gripen Demo AESA radar cooperation)
A demonstrator for the new version was rolled out in April 2008, and has been
in flight testing since.
Other aircraft upgrades are not advertised at present, but have been the
subject of industry rumor and conditional commitments.
Some reports have touted the possibility of a thrust-vectoring engine in
future Gripen upgrades, but this was not listed as a selling point in Saab’s
submissions to Norway or Denmark, and has not been mentioned in any Gripen Demo
descriptions. More probable rumors involve upgrading existing fighters to JAS-39
C+/D+, by adding the improved F414G engine.
Other reports over the years have focused on a carrier-capable Sea Gripen.
That’s usually a very difficult conversion, but Saab can take advantage of the
aircraft’s natural
STOL
design. It can fly from a 6×900 meter/ 20×2,950 foot runway, and land in 600
meters or less –
without a catapult, an arrester hook or a braking
chute.
The Sea Gripen would add new undercarriage and nose gear to cope with higher
sink rate forces and catapult launches, strengthen the existing Gripen NG’s tail
hook and some airframe sections, and upgrade anti-corrosion protection. Launch
options would include both catapult (CATOBAR) and “ski jump” ramp short take-off
(STOBAR) capabilities, with maximum launch weight about 1/3 lower for STOBAR
launches. Carrier landing speed is already in the required range under 150
knots, but the current 15 foot/sec sink rate needs to be able to reach 25
foot/sec.
India was the initial Sea Gripen sales target;
Dec
29/09 materials indicate that this option was raised in Saab’s response to
the M-MRCA RFI. India picked the MiG-29K and its own future Tejas LCA Naval
variant for its carriers, however, and Gripen is not currently an M-MRCA
contender. Sea Gripens also have a possible future role in Brazil as a naval
aircraft on INS Sao Paolo, or as a backup choice to Britain’s
F-35C
Lightning IIs on its new CVF carriers. Saab had indicated that it would
spend up to half of Gripen NG’s development budget on this variant,
if
it found a partner. In May 2011, however, an announcement seemed to indicate
that the firm was beginning to move forward on its own, with development
centered in the UK.
Note: article from defense industry daily
