PAF to buy 60 Gripens + AWACS ??

Can any of you from the blonde knights club in sweden
confirm if this piece of news/rumour is true?

US "development" aid to Pak sure is flowing generously.
Either that or this deal involves a lot of barter trade
of pakistani goods... like mangoes & afghan ganja

-----

PAF trying to induct 60 Gripen jets into fleet



By Mayed Ali



LAHO Through a deal thought to cost around Rs 156.6 billion,
the Pakistan Airforce (PAF) is trying to induct 60 state-of-the-art
jetfighters, Gripen (JAS-39), with the manufacturers, Gripen
International - the conglomeration of Saab AB and BAE Systems.

These air-superiority combat aircrafts, come at a price-tag of
$45 million (Rs 2.61 billion), and are considered the best
overall bet in that category. The final delivery of planes to
PAF, is expected within three years. The PAF and Saab Scania
have already negotiated the deal. However, a final agreement
between the Pakistan government and Gripen International is
expected to be signed in a month or so, as the Saab AB awaits
a green signal from the Swedish Government. President Pervez
Musharraf's visit to Sweden has assumed even greater significance
against this backdrop. It is believed that the fate of the
agreement will be decided if President Musharraf succeeds in
convincing the Swedish and British governments to give a go-ahead
nod to Gripen International. Pakistan also intends to purchase
Airborne Early Warning planes, Argus, from Saab Scania as well.

The deal, should it materialise, will give the PAF an instant
cushion of one squadron of Gripen within six months, and
additional aircrafts at regular intervals. These aircrafts
will on lease to Pakistan as a part of the aggressive marketing
and innovative financing campaign of the Gripen International,
until the deal's completion. The squadrons will include twin-seat
trainer aircrafts as well. The entire package will include the
transfer of technology, besides sharing of latest research and
consequential upgrades.

It is learnt the Gripen International has assured the PAF the
delivery of aircrafts, the transfer of technology and upgrade
programmes would not be hindered by any kind of sanctions except
for the UN. The deal can, however, be dampened in case the US
tries to influence both the governments not to allow the Gripen
International to sell the fighters to Pakistan.

The Gripen is a frontline multirole, swingrole aircraft, and is
considered a match for any sophisticated fourth-generation combat
aircraft. Having a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC)
system powered by Volvo RM12 engine, Gripen can attain a maximum
speed of Mach 2. The aircraft has a digital fly-by-wire flight
control system, which further enhances its manoeuvrability - an
optimum agility at all speeds and altitudes. It has an established
performance of flying supersonic at all altitude. Gripen can get
airborne within a short span of one minute (scramble to take-off
time). It can reach 50,000 feet (Maximum service ceiling) from
standstill in just three minutes. The Hand on Throttle and Stick
(HOTAS) control further ensures the best performance of the
aircraft at stress times.

With a sophisticated computerised modern functional and weapon
control system, Gripen is equipped with air-to-air, air-to-ground
and air-to-sea operational capability. The platform is also
capable of carrying out reconnaissance missions during peace and
wartimes. The latest, hitech avionics enables the Gripen pilot to
have a `look down-shoot down' prowess. It is fitted with an
Ericsson Radar, which can detect and lock-on multiple long-range
targets. The aircraft can cage and shoot multiple targets at beyond
visual range (BVR). The fighter can take on the hostile platform
over 130 kilometres away.

In addition to this, the integrated datalink capability eases the
burden on the pilot as information on all land, air and sea targets
is available to all airborne, ground and sea platforms. That is, if
a Gripen is flying over Kahuta and another is patrolling the shores
of the country, both the platforms will share the data on targets
through coloured multifunction displays (MFDs) in the cockpit.

This data will be shared by all ground and sea surveillance points
as well. This is a state-of-the-art system, and matches the US
equivalent JTIDS (Joint Tactical Information Display System). This
system is generally called the Quick Reaction Alerts (QRA), and
gives the fighter an edge in Combat Air Strike (CAS) and Combat Air
Patrol (CAP) operations, besides reconnaissance.

Through this system, any aggressor in the air, land or sea can be
engaged from the nearest facility on the ground, sea or in the air.
This capability gets a prime support from Swedish Airborne Early
Warning (AEW) platforms, S-100B Argus (SAAB 340B AEW). Pakistan is
also looking for the purchase of some of these aircrafts for fully
utilising the defence capability of Gripen. With this edge, Gripen's
low visual radar and infra-red signature makes it a safe platform
in the air, having an edge over the enemy.

On Mon, 05 Jul 2004 00:51:37 GMT, zalzon
wrote:

Can any of you from the blonde knights club in sweden
confirm if this piece of news/rumour is true?

US "development" aid to Pak sure is flowing generously.
Either that or this deal involves a lot of barter trade
of pakistani goods... like mangoes & afghan ganja

Funnily enough the drugs trade from Afganistan hasn't dried up.......

I wonder why?.


Cheers

-----

PAF trying to induct 60 Gripen jets into fleet

John Cook

Any spelling mistakes/grammatic errors are there purely to annoy. All
opinions are mine, not TAFE's however much they beg me for them.

Email Address :-
Spam trap - please remove (trousers) to email me
Eurofighter Website :- http://www.eurofighter-typhoon.co.uk

zalzon wrote:

Can any of you from the blonde knights club in sweden
confirm if this piece of news/rumour is true?

US "development" aid to Pak sure is flowing generously.
Either that or this deal involves a lot of barter trade
of pakistani goods... like mangoes & afghan ganja


If it will come to pass, it probably is through the British side of the
JAS-project. Official Swedish stance is more of a "I know nothing - I'm
from Barcelona" type. That doesn't mean it's not unofficially
sanctioned, of course, but the Swedish government had probably been
happier without the media attention - but what government doesn't that
apply to? =)

/Fredrik

On Mon, 05 Jul 2004 11:31:50 +0200, Fredrik Nikala wrote:

If it will come to pass, it probably is through the British side of the
JAS-project.

I thought the british were just involved in the marketting of the
plane.

Does the export of the gripen require US approval for the engines?

zalzon wrote in message ...
Can any of you from the blonde knights club in sweden
confirm if this piece of news/rumour is true?

PAF trying to induct 60 Gripen jets into fleet

So far people from SAAB Sweden and FMV the Swedish
Defense Material Administration, plus the foreign ministry
all deny 1. sales to Pakistan is under negotiations
2. There no pre-planned discussion with President Musharaff
(he's in sweden right now) regarding military equipment.

However, that doesn't mean its untrue.
This is a very sensitive issue and there's very little
support or legal permittance among the swedish gov and people
to sell arms to countries in sensitive 'war'-zones or with poor
humanitarian conditions, unless they are a strategical ally to Sweden.
(That's why Sweden despite USA/UK being at war still send more
equipment to these nations, they have something Sweden need.)

And also why you don't see Swedish equipment among dictators.
(That's more of a French business idea...)

So if true it would be handled behind closed doors at
BAE/Gripen International and then brought to more people behind
closed doors in the Swedish and UK governments.

Further more this could also be all propaganda and pressure
on the US Admin to allow the shipment of ordered F-16 jets.

"zalzon" wrote in message
news
On Mon, 05 Jul 2004 11:31:50 +0200, Fredrik Nikala wrote:

If it will come to pass, it probably is through the British side of the
JAS-project.

I thought the british were just involved in the marketting of the
plane.

According to my "faktaboken om Gripen" they were involved in at least
requirements gathering for operations in tropical and desert climates. They
also built the composite material wings for the prototype,

Does the export of the gripen require US approval for the engines?

"Karl" wrote in message
om...


And also why you don't see Swedish equipment among dictators.

Inte sedan 1945 i alla fall ;-)

zalzon wrote in message ...
Can any of you from the blonde knights club in sweden
confirm if this piece of news/rumour is true?

PAF trying to induct 60 Gripen jets into fleet

UPDATE...

Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson today CONFIRMED the Pakistani
wish to aquire Gripen Jets, after his session with Prez Musharaff.

Persson added.. before any deal is possible, the Swedish Export
Control Agency has to give clearance. And as mentioned, their
restrictions are very hard to pass. Pakistan is not the ideal
customer for this type of weapon's system.

In short, It has to pass the approval of the governments of
Sweden, Britain and likely the United States for missile parts.
The website for the export control agency (english version)
http://www.isp.se/nyaengelska/indexeng.htm

On Mon, 05 Jul 2004 09:09:34 -0700, Karl wrote:
Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson today CONFIRMED the Pakistani
wish to aquire Gripen Jets, after his session with Prez Musharaff.

Persson added.. before any deal is possible, the Swedish Export
Control Agency has to give clearance. And as mentioned, their
restrictions are very hard to pass. Pakistan is not the ideal
customer for this type of weapon's system.


Interesting news. Thanks for the update Karl. So it turns out
the article was accurate on that point.

If you hear anything more, would you please post it in this
thread.

On Mon, 5 Jul 2004 17:25:17 +0200, "tw" wrote:


"zalzon" wrote in message
news
On Mon, 05 Jul 2004 11:31:50 +0200, Fredrik Nikala wrote:

If it will come to pass, it probably is through the British side of the
JAS-project.

I thought the british were just involved in the marketting of the
plane.

According to my "faktaboken om Gripen" they were involved in at least
requirements gathering for operations in tropical and desert climates. They
also built the composite material wings for the prototype,

Does the export of the gripen require US approval for the engines?




the british were primarly involvled with not only marketing but
makeing the grippen Nato compatible.