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Saab JAS 39 Gripen
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_JAS_39_Gripen
also see https://news.yahoo.com/dont-billions...020000750.html The Saab JAS 39 Gripen (IPA: ['gri?p?n]; English: griffin) is a light single-engine multirole fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace company Saab. It was designed to replace the Saab 35 Draken and 37 Viggen in the Swedish Air Force (Flygvapnet). The Gripen has a delta wing and canard configuration with relaxed stability design and fly-by-wire flight controls. It is powered by the Volvo RM12, and has a top speed of Mach 2. Later aircraft are modified for NATO interoperability standards and to undertake air to air refuelling. In 1979, the Swedish government began development studies for an aircraft capable of fighter, attack and reconnaissance missions to replace the Saab 35 Draken and 37 Viggen. A new design from Saab was selected and developed as the JAS 39, first flying in 1988. Following two crashes during flight development and subsequent alterations to the aircraft's flight control software, the Gripen entered service with the Swedish Air Force in 1996. Upgraded variants, featuring more advanced avionics and adaptations for longer mission times, began entering service in 2003. To market the aircraft internationally, Saab formed partnerships and collaborative efforts with overseas aerospace companies. One example of such efforts was Gripen International, a joint partnership between Saab and BAE Systems formed in 2001. Gripen International was responsible for marketing the aircraft, and was heavily involved in the successful export of the type to South Africa; the organisation was later dissolved amidst allegations of bribery being employed to secure foreign interest and sales. On the export market, the Gripen has achieved moderate success in sales to nations in Central Europe, South Africa and Southeast Asia; bribery has been suspected in some of these procurements, but authorities closed the investigation in 2009. A further version, designated Gripen JAS 39E/F, is beginning deliveries to the Swedish and Brazilian air forces as of 2019; it has previously been referred to as Gripen NG or Super-JAS. The changes include the adoption of a new powerplant, the General Electric F414G, an active electronically scanned array radar, and significantly increased internal fuel capacity. Saab has proposed other derivatives, including a navalised Gripen Maritime for carrier operations and an optionally manned aircraft for unmanned operations. Sweden and Brazil have ordered the Gripen E/F and Switzerland initially selected it for procurement. As of January 2020, 306 Gripens have been built. Controversies, scandals, and costs Developing an advanced multi-role fighter was a major undertaking for Sweden. The predecessor Viggen, despite being less advanced and less expensive, had been criticised for occupying too much of Sweden's military budget and was branded "a cuckoo in the military nest" by critics as early as 1971. At the 1972 party congress of the Social Democrats, the dominant party in Swedish politics since the 1950s, a motion was passed to stop any future projects to develop advanced military aircraft. In 1982, the Gripen project passed in the Riksdag by a margin of 176 for and 167 against, with the entire Social Democratic party voting against the proposal due to demands for more studies. A new bill was introduced in 1983 and a final approval was given in April 1983 with the condition that the project was to have a predetermined fixed-price contract, a decision that would later be criticised as unrealistic due to later cost overruns. According to Annika Brändström, in the aftermath of the 1989 and 1993 crashes, the Gripen risked a loss of credibility and the weakening of its public image. There was public speculation that failures to address technical problems exposed in the first crash had directly contributed to the second crash and thus had been avoidable. Brändström observed that media elements had called for greater public accountability and explanation of the project; ill-informed media analysis had also distorted public knowledge of the Gripen. The sitting Conservative government quickly endorsed and supported the Gripen – Minister of Defense Anders Björck issued a public reassurance that the project was very positive for Sweden. In connection to the Gripen's marketing efforts to multiple countries, including South Africa, Austria, the Czechia and Hungary, there were reports of widespread bribery and corruption by BAE Systems and Saab. In 2007, Swedish journalists reported that BAE had paid bribes equivalent to millions of dollars. Following criminal investigations in eight countries, only one individual in Austria, Alfons Mensdorf-Pouilly, was prosecuted for bribery. The scandal tarnished the international reputation of the Gripen, BAE Systems, Saab, and Sweden. The Gripen's cost has been subject to frequent attention and speculation. In 2008, Saab announced reduced earnings for that year, partly attributing this to increased marketing costs for the aircraft. In 2008, Saab disputed Norway's cost calculations for the Gripen NG as overestimated and in excess of real world performance with existing operators. A 2007 report by the European Union Institute for Security Studies stated the total research and development costs of Gripen were €1.84 billion. According to a study by Jane's Information Group in 2012, the Gripen's operational cost was the lowest among several modern fighters; it was estimated at $4,700 per flight hour. The Swedish Ministry of Defense estimated the cost of the full system, comprising 60 Gripen E/F, at SEK 90 billion distributed over the period 2013–42. The Swedish Armed Forces estimated that maintaining 100 C/D-model aircraft until 2042 would cost SEK 60 billion, while buying aircraft from a foreign supplier would cost SEK 110 billion. Role Fighter, attack, and reconnaissance aircraft National origin Sweden Manufacturer Saab Group Design group Industrigruppen JAS, FMV First flight 9 December 1988 Introduction 9 June 1996 Status In service Primary users Swedish Air Force South African Air Force Czech Air Force Hungarian Air Force Produced 1987–present Number built 306 Program cost US$ 13.54 billion (2006) Unit cost US$ 30–60 million for JAS 39C The Swedish Air Force placed a total order for 204 Gripens in three batches. The first delivery occurred on 8 June 1993, when 39102 was handed over to the Flygvapnet during a ceremony at Linköping; the last was handed over on 13 December 1996. The air force received its first Batch II example on 19 December 1996. Instead of the fixed-price agreement of Batch I, Batch II aircraft were paid as a "target price" concept: any cost underruns or overruns would be split between FMV and Saab. The JAS 39 entered service with the Skaraborg Air Force Wing (F 7) on 1 November 1997. The final Batch three aircraft was delivered to FMV on 26 November 2008. This was accomplished at 10% less than the agreed-upon price for the batch, putting the JAS 39C flyaway cost at under US$30 million. This batch of Gripens was equipped for in-flight refuelling from specially equipped TP84s. In 2007, a programme was started to upgrade 31 of the air force's JAS 39A/B fighters to JAS 39C/Ds. The SwAF had a combined 134 JAS 39s in service in January 2013. In March 2015, the Swedish Air Force received its final JAS 39C. On 29 March 2011, the Swedish parliament approved the Swedish Air Force for a 3-month deployment to support the UN-mandated no-fly zone over Libya. Deployment of eight Gripens, ten pilots, and other personnel began on 2 April. On 8 June 2011, the Swedish government announced an agreement to extend the deployment for five of the Gripens. By October 2011, Gripens had flown more than 650 combat missions, almost 2,000 flight hours, and delivered approximately 2,000 reconnaissance reports to NATO. Journalist Tim Hepher suggested that the Libyan operations might stimulate sales of the Gripen and other aircraft. Specifications JAS 39C/D General characteristics Crew: 1 JAS 39C / 2 JAS 39D Length: 14.1 m (46 ft 3 in) JAS 39C 14.8 m (49 ft) JAS 39DWingspan: 8.4 m (27 ft 7 in) Height: 4.5 m (14 ft 9 in) Wing area: 30 m2 (320 sq ft) Empty weight: 6,800 kg (14,991 lb) Max takeoff weight: 14,000 kg (30,865 lb) Powerplant: 1 × Volvo RM12 afterburning turbofan engine, 54 kN (12,000 lbf) thrust dry, 80.5 kN (18,100 lbf) with afterburner Performance Maximum speed: 2,460 km/h (1,530 mph, 1,330 kn) + Maximum speed: Mach 2 Combat range: 800 km (500 mi, 430 nmi) Ferry range: 3,200 km (2,000 mi, 1,700 nmi) Service ceiling: 15,240 m (50,000 ft) g limits: +9 -3 Wing loading: 283 kg/m2 (58 lb/sq ft) Thrust/weight: 0.97 Takeoff distance: 500 m (1,640 ft) Landing distance: 600 m (1,969 ft) Armament Guns: 1 × 27 mm Mauser BK-27 revolver cannon with 120 rounds (single-seat models only) Hardpoints: 8 – one dedicated for FLIR / ECM / LD / Reconn pod. Two hardpoints under the fuselage, two under and one on the tip of each wing. with a capacity of 5 300 kg (11 700 lb),with provisions to carry combinations of: Rockets: 4 × rocket pods, 13.5 cm rockets Missiles: 6 × IRIS-T (Rb.98) or AIM-9 Sidewinder (Rb.74) or A-Darter 4 × MBDA Meteor, AIM-120 AMRAAM (Rb.99) or MBDA MICA 4 × AGM-65 Maverick (Rb.75) 2 × KEPD.350 2 × Rbs.15F anti-ship missile Bombs: 4 × GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bomb 2 × Bk.90 cluster bomb 8 × Mark 82 bombs Avionics Radar: PS-05/A Pulse-Doppler * |
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