Sea Gripen

As was reported recently, the Indian Navy has sent out an RFI on a new multirole deck-based fighter. One of the potential contenders is Saab with its little known Sea Gripen. Here's an official brief along with official photographs of the Sea Gripen by Peter Nilsson, VP Op Capabilities at Gripen:

The Sea Gripen Programme Saab AB has since the beginning of the Gripen programme analysed and discussed a carrier based version from time to time. The first studies go back to the mid-90s. The studies have been initiated due to interest shown by difference countries which see the land based Gripen as their future land based fighter alternative and who also have, or are aiming to, develop carriers within their fleets. One of the main reasons is Gripen’s one of a kind capability to operate from rugged short road strips, which leads to the obvious corollary of “How much re-construction is needed to re-design the Gripen into a carrier based version?”

The basic Swedish Air Force requirements in the original design for securing the capability of short strips operations is very like “carrier based ops”. Qualities like; low landing speed, high pitch and roll authority, high precision glide slope control, high precision landing capability, high sink rate clearance, strengthened airframe etc. are built-in from the beginning.

Add Gripen´s character for active service in field with easy maintenance (engine changes < 1 hour in field, no need for external power etc) makes the “jump” much shorter with Gripen compared to other land-based fighters’ opportunity to transform into a “deck-based” fighter.

The decision to launch the programme within Saab AB was taken in the context of Gripen market opportunities in two nations which are both at the beginning of developing a carrier based capability for their Armed Forces, namely Brazil and India. The Sea Gripen Programme is aimed for naval-/carrier based operations.

A few highlights: The Sea Gripen is a development programme with its origin from the Gripen NG programme. Sea Gripen is aimed for both CATOBAR and STOBAR operations.
The main technical re-designs are:
*New undercarriage and nose gear to cope with higher sink rate forces and catapult launches.
*Strengthened air frame in some areas.
*Redesigned arrestor hook

“Marinazing” of the aircraft (increased requirements on salt water protections, operations in hot and humidity conditions etc.)
All together the re-design will add weight on the airframe which will give an empty weight between 7500-8000 kg. (~400 kg extra weight compare to Gripen NG) Due to its balanced size there are no needs for structural changes like folding wings Sea Gripen will be a very appealing alternative for nations with smaller size carriers. Its well balanced weight/size compare to heavy twin-engine alternatives will allow nations to move from “air defence”- carriers to a concept with strategic capabilities, without a replacement of their carriers. All sensors, avionics and weapons within the Gripen NG programme will be offered in the Sea Gripen.


Author: Shiv Aroor
Source: LiveFist

Couldn't ignore to notice the uncanny resemblence of sea grippen to Tejas if one overlooks the carnards and tail fin. Very very nice camo though.

Cheers....

yeah!

great everybody in the world wnt 2 impress India by offering their best technologies...... Money he to Honey he[/b]

IN sent a RFI to Lockheed Martin for the F-35C. Now that a interesting development. Meanwhile Russians have denied to sell the Su-33 birdies to India saying they are old but they are negotiating with the Chinese. Russians dumping junk into China

Doesn't make sense for the navy to invest in the Sea Gripen when we have the much superior Mig-29K's. If the sea gripen is selected , I am assuming the deliveries will start in 2015. In this timeframe the Mig-29K's could be easily upgraded to AESA in a much lesser cost. Also by this time , the F-35's sea variants should be up for sale to India as well. Makes more sense to go for the F-35's especially when they cost just $25 m more per piece.

I think the aircraft won't enter service because the Brazilians have shown no interest in the project and probably won't be showing. IN on the other hand is only interested in 16 birds. Economically it would be expensive to IN as well as SAAB.