Story ID: DP 12_6 Gripen
First Gripen E for Sweden Flies
By: David Donald
Caption: With the flight of the first series aircraft for Sweden, Saab now has five Gripen Es in the air, including one destined for the Brazilian air force.
Word Count: 342
The first series production Gripen E for Sweden has made its initial flight, piloted by Försvarets Materielverk (FMV, defense materiel administration) test pilot Henrik Wänseth, Saab announced on December 3. Flygvapnet (the Swedish air force) is to receive 60 JAS 39E single-seaters. They are equipped with a wide-area cockpit display and helmet-mounted display from AEL Sistemas, Elbit’s Brazilian subsidiary. Some form of operating capability is scheduled to be achieved in 2021. The first Gripen E development aircraft took to the air on August 26 and is slated for delivery to the Brazilian air force after first being employed on trials in Sweden. The remaining three aircraft from the first production batch are initially earmarked for Swedish trials and evaluation with the FMV.

Brazil is buying 28 Gripen E/F-39 single-seaters and eight Gripen F two-seaters for delivery from 2021. Under the 100 percent technology transfer deal, Brazilian industry is building components and will open an assembly line. It is also leading the development of the two-seater, for which Brazil is currently the only customer. Between the Brazilian and Swedish assembly lines, annual production rate is set at 24 aircraft, with additional capacity available to meet export demand.

In late November, a full Systems Rig was installed at the Gripen Design and Development Network (GDDN) at Embraer’s Gavião Peixoto facility. Built as a partnership between Saab, Embraer, Atech, AEL Sistemas, and the Brazilian Air Force, the “S-Rig” simulator will become an important tool in developing and testing new systems. It will also allow test pilots to rehearse trials flights prior to getting airborne and, as such, will support the activities of the Gripen Flight Test Center (GFTC) that is to be established alongside the GDDN in 2020.

Saab is hopeful that both domestic customers will order more aircraft. Sweden could add to its 60 in the light of increased tension in the Baltic region, while Brazil has stated an ultimate requirement for 108 to be acquired in three batches. Detailed negotiations concerning a second 36-aircraft batch could start in 2021.
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