Tuesday 24 September 2019

SAAB Gripen E Fighter Jet Specs, Cockpit, and Price

SAAB Gripen E Fighter Jet Specs, Cockpit, and Price – SAAB Gripen E is an advanced version of the Gripen C/ D single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft developed by SAAB together with the Swiss government. This new fighter will replace the Swiss Air Force fleet from Northrop F-5E/ F Tiger. SAAB carries out modifications and related construction work for Gripen E by using components supplied by the Swiss company. The new Gripen E aircraft equipped with new IRST (Infra Red Search and Track) sensors completed its maiden flight in April 2014. The first test aircraft was launched in May 2016.

SAAB Gripen E Fighter Jet

SAAB Gripen E Specs

Gripen E has an overall length of 15.2 m, a wingspan of 8.6 m, and a maximum take-off weight of 16,500 kg. The maximum speed of the aircraft is Mach 2 at high altitude, while the speed at low altitude is 1,400 km/ hour.

The Gripen E fighter has ten external hardpoints, which enable it to carry reconnaissance pods, weapons and external fuel tanks. The completion time is ten minutes in the air-to-air configuration and 20 minutes, while carrying weapons for air-to-ground combat.

The aircraft's internal fuel tank with a combined capacity of 3.4 tons is about 40% larger than the previous version. The increase in volume is made possible by moving the landing gear from the fuselage to the inner wing.

SAAB Gripen E Engine

Gripen E fighter jet is powered by General Electric GE F414G turbofan engine with 22,000 lb (98 kN) of thrust. It features a new high pressure turbine and six stages, a new high pressure compressor.

GE was awarded a $ 250 million contract by the Swiss Government in December 2011 to supply engines to Gripen E. The engine and aircraft design allowed it to fly at supersonic speeds without using an afterburner, saving more fuel, and allowing it to stay in the air longer.

SAAB Gripen E cockpit

SAAB Gripen E Cockpit and Avionics

Gripen E fighter jet displays a digital cockpit with three large multi-function (MFD) displays including several 3D screens. The cockpit is also equipped with hands-on-throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) which provides superior situational awareness for pilots.

Gripen E features an active Selex ES-05 Raven A-AA (electronic-scan) radar system. Mounted on a swashplate on the nose of the aircraft, the radar provides a 100° field of view and backward ability.

Passive Infrared Search and Track (IRST) sensor system installed on the aircraft is Skyward G which is supplied by Selex. It was also mounted on the nose of the aircraft and did not emit signals. This aircraft is further equipped with a sophisticated electronic warfare system that listens passively.

Laser Litening III (LDP) Appointment Pod from Rafael III is mounted to the aircraft to attack ground targets using laser guided bombs. The LDP also integrates a forward looking infrared (FLIR) sensor and a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera.

Gripen E can optionally be installed with different pod systems, including SAAB's own Modular Reconnaissance Pod System (MRPS), Reccelite Rafael, and digital reconnaissance pods with Thales (DJRP).

This aircraft can be equipped with regular radio, Havequick/ SATURN secure radio frequency, long distance satellite communication systems, including Link 16 for wide area command and control (C2), which is compatible with FLORAKO radar systems.

It is also equipped with a ground data link called ROVER, which provides communication to the Forward Air Controller (FAC) or Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) on land.

SAAB Gripen E specs

SAAB Gripen E Weapons

Weapons that can be carried by the Gripen E fighter jet are air-to-air missiles including IRIS-T infrared guided short-range missiles, and Meteor missiles, which are air-to-air (BVRAAM) missiles that are out of visual range. The aircraft also has the flexibility to be equipped with Sidewinder and A-Darter missiles to replace IRIS-T, and the Medium-Range Air-to-Air (AMRAAM) missile to replace the Meteor. Furthermore, it can be equipped with long-range weapons such as R-Darter and Derby, and short-range weapons such as ASRAAM and Python.

Gripen E can also be integrated with a number of air-to-surface weapons including Mk82, Mk83 and Mk84 bombs that are not aimed, laser guided bombs such as GBU-12, GBU-16 and GBU-10, and sophisticated bombs such as GBU -49 and GBU- 39. Surface-to-air missiles such as the RBS15F ER, TAURUS KEPD 350, AGM-65 Maverick, and MBDA dual-mode Brimstone (DMB) can also be integrated into Gripen E.

This fighter jet has a versatile 27 mm Mauser BK27 high speed weapon that provides air-to-air and air-to-surface attack capability. It is also equipped with a missile approach (MAW) missile system and is capable of carrying more chaff and flare packages compared to similar aircraft, increasing its defense capability.

SAAB Gripen E weapon

SAAB Gripen E Price and Orders

The price of the latest SAAB Gripen E fighter jet is around US $ 65 Million. Orders for new generation aircraft for Sweden are based on an initial agreement signed between SAAB and the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) in February and March 2012. The agreement calls for modification of 60 Gripen C aircraft to the Gripen E configuration for Sweden from 2013 to 2026. Three Development orders under the agreement were made in 2013.

The total value of the order based on the agreement is estimated at SEK 47.2 bn ($ 7.4 bn). A framework agreement was signed in August 2012 between the Swedish Defense and Security Export Agency (FXM) and Armasuisse. Switzerland has the option to purchase 22 Gripen E aircraft to be delivered between 2018 and 2021 under the agreement.

The two chambers of the Swiss Parliament, the National Council (Nationalrat) and the State Council (Ständerat), won majority approval from its members for the procurement of Gripen E respectively in August 2013 and September 2013. In December 2014, FMV placed a $ 50 million development order with SAAB for Gripen E. aircraft

SAAB received an order of around $ 800 million from FMV to provide role equipment, support and maintenance equipment for the Gripen E aircraft, in October 2014.

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