Upgraded Fighter Includes More Power, Better Avionics

Swedish aircraft manufacturer Saab unveiled its Gripen demonstrator aircraft Thursday, giving guests and international media their first official glimpses of the advanced fighter aircraft.

"This is a landmark event for Saab and its international industrial partners and a significant moment in the future of fighter aircraft technology and performance. I am very proud of what we have achieved and am confident that this next generation of Gripen will be blazing trails in the skies for years to come", said Saab CEO Ake Svensson.

During the ceremony the Gripen Demo was unveiled and the major new features picked out with powerful spotlights. The guests included Norway's Defence Minister Anne-Grete Strom-Erichsen, Sweden's Defence Minister Sten Tolgfors, The Czech Deputy Minister of Defence FrantiSek Padelek and the Secretary of State in Hungary's Ministry of Defence, Joszef Bali. Representatives from Gripen's customer countries as well as campaign countries India, Greece, Denmark and Norway were present.

The Gripen Demo includes a new, more powerful engine; a modular avionics system; a greater payload, and longer range; and an entirely new radar system that Saab will develop, together with Thales.

The flying test platform will be used to introduce new technology and functions to Gripen. The new capabilities could be the basis for a totally new version and/or will be completely or partially integrated into current versions of Gripen.

Magnus Lewis Olsson, a test pilot at Saab, pointed out in his speech that Sweden is one of only six countries that manufactures fighter aircraft at present... prompting Svensson to comment the Gripen must retain its position at the cutting edge of technology for another 30-40 years. "With [the] Gripen Demo the future is already here, he said.

FMI: www.saabaircraft.com