Swiss pilots fly next-generation Gripen

[SpArK]

Swiss pilots fly next-generation Gripen​

Switzerland has advanced its planned purchase of the Gripen E/F fighter, with two pilots from the nation's air force and Armasuisse procurement agency having flown Saab's development aircraft in Sweden.

Four test flights totalling a combined 3h 36min were conducted between 2 and 4 May from the Swedish manufacturer's Linköping site, with Switzerland also having sent flight test engineers to the location.

"We performed flight performance tests using an air policing scenario," says Armasuisse chief test pilot Bernhard Berset. "We simulated a quick reaction alert and a maximum performance intercept to high altitude and supersonic speed. We tested the [General Electric F414G] engine in the entire envelope and are pleased with the results."

Saab's two-seat test aircraft was flown with several different weapons configurations during the three-day programme, including the carriage of dummy Diehl BGT Defence IRIS-T, MBDA Meteor and Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles. Sorties were conducted up to an altitude of 12,000ft (3,660m) and to a maximum speed of Mach 1.35, according to Armasuisse.

Weapons configurations included carrying Meteor and IRIS-T missiles

"We have shown the growing capabilities of this aircraft and demonstrated everything requested, including increased performance, handling and endurance," says Saab chief test pilot Richard Ljungberg.

Switzerland last November announced its selection of the Gripen E/F to replace its Northrop F-5E/F fighters, with Saab beating rival offers by Dassault Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon.

This launched talks over an expected 22-aircraft deal. "The negotiations continue according to plan," says Saab.

According to a schedule released by the Swiss defence ministry, a contract award is anticipated by June 2013, with deliveries of the Gripen E/F to be made between 2018 and 2020.

Saab says its next phase of flight testing with the Gripen will include a new version of the Selex Galileo ES-05 Raven active electronically scanned array radar, plus enhanced avionics equipment and cockpit displays. A Swiss evaluation team will assess the modifications in the second half of 2012.

PICTURES: Swiss pilots fly next-generation Gripen

 

[SpArK]

Swiss government presses ahead with Gripen E purchase
​

11/19/2012

Switzerland's government has formally requested approval and funding for the purchase of the Saab JAS 39 Gripen E multirole fighter and may put its selection to the test in a national referendum, it was revealed on 14 November.

The news came as the Swiss Federal Council formally requested that the Swiss Parliament approves funding for the purchase of aircraft to fulfil the country's fighter procurement programme.

Funding for the programme to buy 22 Gripen E fighters is calculated at CHF3.126 billion (USD3.311 billion) and will, if approved by the Swiss Federal Assembly, be provided through 'The Gripen Funds Act' of the Swiss Parliament.

The Gripen E was originally selected by Switzerland in November 2011 at the successor to the Northrop F-5 Tiger II, through the country's Tiger replacement programme (TTE).

According to the terms of the proposed 'Gripen Funds Act', the procurement of the Gripen is subject to an optional referendum, the date of which would be determined by the Federal Council. A referendum could be problematic for a procurement that has not been without controversy.

Some circles questioned the decision to select the Gripen over competitors that included the Dassault Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Swiss government presses ahead with Gripen E purchase



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Lancer and Gripen

 

[Al Bhatti]

Sorry for an off-topic reply:

A small nation (in regards to population and size) like Switzerland is buying these planes and the news is some "normal" news.

Had it been any Arab country (read GCC country) the thread would have been pages and pages with the debate evolving from a debate on specifications of the hardware to politics to religion and in the end the thread would have been closed.

 

[Najam Khan]

Great, so looking forward to see Swiss AF Gripen low-flying in the Alps...they don't have much combat role in Swiss AF

 

[Tshering22]

Sorry for an off-topic reply:

A small nation (in regards to population and size) like Switzerland is buying these planes and the news is some "normal" news.

Had it been any Arab country (read GCC country) the thread would have been pages and pages with the debate evolving from a debate on specifications of the hardware to politics to religion and in the end the thread would have been closed.

That's apparently because there's a strong relation between GCC countries and Pakistan while the Swiss are a neutral country with hardly any enemies.

They will use this simply to do air policing (22 Gripens aren't exactly going to be bombing enemy air bases and strategic sites) and to ensure that Swiss airspace is not violated.

But I strongly agree with you on the bold part.

Great, so looking forward to see Swiss AF Gripen low-flying in the Alps...they don't have much combat role in Swiss AF

But they cannot be underestimated either.

I read sometime back that they were so uptight about their neutrality in WW2 that they shot down both USAF and Luftwaffe jets down. They seem like a pretty tourist country with nothing to defend themselves but after seeing how their defenses are disguised as farmhouses and other common things, I'd say they're pretty well armed for their size.

 

[Esc8781]

Good luck to the Swiss.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Why is it that the Swiss went for the least capable fighter (in their own selection program)?

 

[lander]

Why is it that the Swiss went for the least capable fighter (in their own selection program)?

They haven't mentioned ANYTHING about the Gripen being the least capable. Armasuisse made an evaluation based on the C/D Gripen (MS19 & MS20), not the 39E/F. Later when the MS21 finally was included, it was severely downgraded with a factor as low as 0.6 due to uncertainty of certain upgrades. But it's always nice to see that the Dassault-PR campaign has worked so well.

The Gripen 39E that Switzerland will get has been confirmed to have all the upgrades they expressed their interest in (which were downgraded in the evaluation) and, depending on the outcomes of current economic discussions and potential export possibilities, the 39E will receive more enhancement than originally specified for Switzerland for the same price.

The Gripen is intended to replace the F-5 tiger. If you take a look at how the small and cheap F-5 has been used in Switzerland, namely operated from road bases by reservists and supported with conscripts, I can't come to think of a better fighter to replace it than the Gripen. The Gripen has amazing STOL-capabilities and would be able to land, be re-armed, re-fueled, get new mission data and take off within 15 minutes by the hand of 4 conscripts, one technician and two smaller vehicles.

If you think the Typhoon would have been a better choice, take a look at Austria. Barely capable of affording to fly their hangar queens, with reduced air frame life and completely without any air-ground abilities. As a defensive fighter for a nationally tied defense, I don't think there's a much better choice than the Gripen. And in hindsight, Switzerland has repeatedly expressed Gripen gives the best bang for the buck. The few advantages you get with the dual-engine canards isn't worth the squeeze.

Similarly, I can't imagine why India intends to replace their cheap single engine MiG-21 and Jaguar with the expensive dual engined Rafale. Doesn't make sense to have such a large quantity of dual engined fighters [Su-30MKI, MiG-29K, HAL FGFA and now Rafale] complemented by such a small group of single engined fighters [Mirage 2000, Tejas Mk1 and Tejas Mk2].

 

[lander]

... Dual post

 

[Donatello]

That's apparently because there's a strong relation between GCC countries and Pakistan while the Swiss are a neutral country with hardly any enemies.

They will use this simply to do air policing (22 Gripens aren't exactly going to be bombing enemy air bases and strategic sites) and to ensure that Swiss airspace is not violated.

But I strongly agree with you on the bold part.



But they cannot be underestimated either.

I read sometime back that they were so uptight about their neutrality in WW2 that they shot down both USAF and Luftwaffe jets down. They seem like a pretty tourist country with nothing to defend themselves but after seeing how their defenses are disguised as farmhouses and other common things, I'd say they're pretty well armed for their size.

You're mistaken. Their forex reserves are more than that of India. They have a very tightly monitored and controlled economy. Extremely high standard of living. Number of world's major firms are from Switzerland. Man, they have their act together. What's to feel good in wasting billions on weapons while your people die in poverty. (goes for both India and Pakistan) Even USA, a broke nation they are, their people will soon find out the hard way.

 

[jha]

You're mistaken. Their forex reserves are more than that of India. They have a very tightly monitored and controlled economy. Extremely high standard of living. Number of world's major firms are from Switzerland. Man, they have their act together. What's to feel good in wasting billions on weapons while your people die in poverty. (goes for both India and Pakistan) Even USA, a broke nation they are, their people will soon find out the hard way.

Very very true... Swiss are very intelligent people. They even laugh at the American craziness of developing new weapon systems.
I truly envy them...

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

You're mistaken. Their forex reserves are more than that of India. They have a very tightly monitored and controlled economy. Extremely high standard of living. Number of world's major firms are from Switzerland. Man, they have their act together. What's to feel good in wasting billions on weapons while your people die in poverty. (goes for both India and Pakistan) Even USA, a broke nation they are, their people will soon find out the hard way.

Swiss is a small country with a small population. So poverty can be reduced too soon. Moreover that country havent fought a single war for 5 centuries ie 500 years.
Our situation was not exactly the same,it was hard to see a decade pass without a war.
So its improper to compare swiss with India or whole Indian subcontinent..

 

[acid rain]

Similarly, I can't imagine why India intends to replace their cheap single engine MiG-21 and Jaguar with the expensive dual engined Rafale. Doesn't make sense to have such a large quantity of dual engined fighters [Su-30MKI, MiG-29K, HAL FGFA and now Rafale] complemented by such a small group of single engined fighters [Mirage 2000, Tejas Mk1 and Tejas Mk2].

THough off topic but a very good question indeed, IAF will be top heavy with a bunch of twin engined fighters and hardly any light single engined fighters apart from LCA and Mirage 2000. Any experts care to reply please?

 

[Donatello]

Swiss is a small country with a small population. So poverty can be reduced too soon. Moreover that country havent fought a single war for 5 centuries ie 500 years.
Our situation was not exactly the same,it was hard to see a decade pass without a war.
So its improper to compare swiss with India or whole Indian subcontinent..

What i meant to say was that fighting wars is useless. Making peace goes long way. Swiss haven't fought a war in ages, hence the advance society they enjoy. While Europe around them was burning and is still in crisis, they are safe and sound. Care for your people. No amount of F-16s or SU30MKIs will feed the hungry or provide justice to the weak.

 

[Nishan_101]

So they are not looking into buying the F-35s