Saab presents the first six serial production Gripen E aircraft
Last week, with the first six serial production Gripen E aircraft leaving the factory and entering the delivery phase, Saab has crossed a major milestone in the Swedish and Brazilian Gripen E/F programmes.
During the high-level meeting in Linköping, Sweden, authorities from Brazil and Sweden got to see the first serial production Gripen E fighters on both static display and a flying display. The authorities also tested the new Gripen mission trainer simulator which will be used to train the Gripen pilots from both countries.
“The start of the serial delivery phase with these four aircraft for the Brazilian Air Force and two for the Swedish Air Force is an extremely important achievement for the Gripen programme. It shows that we have a mature product and that we fulfill our contractual obligations,” said Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab. “This all has been possible thanks to our smart ways of working, innovative production technologies and close cooperation with the customers,” he added.
According to Mats Palmberg, Head of Gripen India campaign, the beginning of the delivery phase of Gripen E means the fighter aircraft is ready for the world.
Gripen E, with its improved range, new engine, advanced weapons systems, modern EW and countermeasures systems is all set to add to the capability of its potential operators. Built for forward-thinking air forces, Gripen E can be adapted to incorporate the latest in defence technology. Its smart split avionics allows for changes in the mission critical systems of the fighter without touching the flight critical parts. Any new update including new weapon integration can be conducted quicker than any other contemporary fighter of today.
“The Gripen E fleet is growing. This clearly shows how far we have come with the fighter. The programme is running on time, and that also means we are fully prepared for India. When India selects Gripen, the IAF will receive a mature yet hypermodern asset. The fighter of tomorrow is available today,” Mats says.