When Sweden finally joins NATO in July, its fleet will include the JAS-39 Gripen, a Swedish fighter jet. It's likely that Russia is unhappy that NATO is planning to add Russian-made fighter jets to its fleet in the near future.
Over 90 Gripen fighters are currently in service with the Swedish government. If necessary, the Gripen can keep up with Russian fighters thanks to its speed and agility. Find out why Russia should be worried about the Swedish JAS 39 Gripen Fighter Jet.
Popularity increases with the number of roles played. Known for its canards and delta wings, the Gripen first saw service in 1997. SAAB Group is the manufacturer of the aircraft (Swedish Aeroplane Company Limited). Despite weighing in at just under 15,000 pounds when empty and over 31,000 pounds when taking off, it packs quite a punch for a combat jet.
Pilots' Dream Environment
The cockpit features a wide-area display and a heads-up display among other 3D panels to keep the pilots' attention on the task at hand. The new Gripen E engine increases its range to 2,000 miles, its ceiling to 50,000 feet, its thrust to 22,000 pounds with afterburner engaged, and its top speed to Mach 2. One can attribute the engine's power to the General Electric F414-GE-39E turbofan.
Anywhere a Gripen can fly or swim is a potential target for an attack
Including the GBU-49 laser-guided bomb, the Sidewinder air-to-air missile, the Maverick air-to-surface missile, and the RBS-15 anti-ship missile can all be carried via the aircraft's ten hardpoints.
Major Jonas Jakobsson, a veteran SAAB pilot, logged more than a thousand hours of flight time in the Gripen. According to Hush-Kit, an aviation publication, Jakobsson praised the Gripen's user-friendly controls. To quote one satisfied pilot: "As a pilot, I greatly appreciate the exceptionally well-designed HMI [human-machine interface] that allows me to absorb massive volumes of information and truly grasp its tactical value." I asked Jakobsson what he liked best about the Gripen, and he said it was the radar.
"Gripen E's situational awareness is top-notch. Each Gripen's local fusion of sensor data, the global fusion of data shared within the tactical air unit [and command and control], and the human-machine interface with the intricate symbology and large area display are all essential components. This line of communication and the resulting situational awareness are the bedrock upon which all combat is built." This is what the Gripen pilot had to say. Jakobsson agrees that the Gripen is low-maintenance.
The Gripen has had little combat experience, which is a drawback. But in some exercises, like Alaska's Exercise Red Flag in 2006, it excelled, racking up "kills" in mock dogfights with F-16s, F-15s, and Eurofighter Typhoons.
When it comes down to it, the Gripen is a reliable plane
Sweden plans to continue improving it and exporting it. Neither the addition of new members to NATO nor the presence of a member with such capable multi-role aircraft were predicted by Vladimir Putin. To keep an aerial advantage over Russia, the Gripen will play a crucial role.
The turnaround time between missions is relatively short
Turnaround time between air combat missions, including refueling and rearming, is typically stated as 10 minutes. High availability and cheap total cost of ownership, he claimed, are the result of simple maintenance (requiring only a few hours to remedy a potential problem) and a long mean time between failures. The Gripen has had little combat experience, which is a drawback. But in some exercises, like Alaska's Exercise Red Flag in 2006, it excelled, racking up "kills" in mock dogfights with F-16s, F-15s, and Eurofighter Typhoons. When it comes down to it, the Gripen is a reliable plane. Sweden plans to continue improving it and exporting it. Neither the addition of new members to NATO nor the presence of a member with such capable multi-role aircraft were predicted by Vladimir Putin. To keep an aerial advantage over Russia, the Gripen will play a crucial role.
