Saab Copyright Swedish Saab has completed maiden flight of its latest upgraded variant of the JAS 39 Gripen multirole fighter jet. D...
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| Saab Copyright |
Swedish Saab has completed maiden flight of its latest upgraded variant of the JAS 39 Gripen multirole fighter jet.
Dubbed Gripen E, major enhancements include a significantly improved avionics, lengthened fuselage, new higher thrust engine and an advanced AESA radar.
At 10:32, Gripen E with designation 39-8 took off on its maiden flight, flown by Saab experimental test pilot Marcus Wandt from Saab’s airfield in Linköping, Sweden.
The aircraft flew over the eastern parts of Östergötland for 40 minutes. During the flight, the aircraft carried out a number of actions to demonstrate various test criteria including the retracting and extending of the landing gear.
Gripen E fuselage has been extended by one meter to 15.2 meter, that enable it to carry more internal fuel and weapons, thereby increasing range and lethality.
It can carry a payload of 5,100 kg on its 10 hardpoints including the two new additional under fuselage pylons.
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| Saab Copyright |
Powering the Gripen E is a new GE F414G engine with a 98 kN after burning thrust, which replaced the Volvo RM12/GE 404 engine with 81 kN thrust. The engine enable Gripen to supercruise -going supersonic without using afterburner.
The aircraft retains Gripen's unique operational capabilities, like rearming within 10 minutes (in air to air combat role) and engine replacement in 1 hour.
With a maximum take off weight of 16500 kg, Gripen E can reach Mach 2 speed in high altitudes and more than 1400 kmph at sea level.
So far Sweden and Brazil have ordered 60 and 36 aircraft respectively including the twin seat Gripen F fighters. Deliveries are slated to commence from 2019.
