Hello again! In my last post i wrote about the F-18, a plane that I love more than
anything.
www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread152934/pg1' So in this thread I was thinking
to move west to my neighbour country Sweden and their own "Simple and Stylish fighter". here it is the facts about the "Gripen".
History
The Swedish fighter made it's first flight in december 1988. The plane was planned to be a good fighter with bombing capabilities. And the "JAS"
word actually comes from the Swedish words Jakt (Fighter), Attack (Attack), and Spaning (Reconnaissance). The JAS plane has been made for one or two
pilots. The "Gripen" is the later model of the old Viggen plane.
Design
The Gripen is very like the British EF. It's design gives it speed, acceleration and good turning preformance. The combination of delta wing and
canards gives the JAS 39 Gripen very good take off and landing performance and superb flying characteristics. The plane is made for the 21ct even
thoug it haven't been built with same budget as it's competetors "Hornet" and the "EF".
Gripen today
Today the plane serves in the Swedish, South African, Hungarian and the Czech Republic air-forces. The planes unit cost is about 35 million $. The
Gripen ahs had a great history so far, only four crashes, taht is a low number if we compare to other top-fighters.
Description
Role Swing-role combat aircraft (Fight, Attack, Maritime attack, Reconnaissance)
Crew 1 or 2
First Flight 9 dec 1988
Entered Service 1996
Manufacturer Saab-Scania
Dimensions
Length 14.1 m
Wingspan 8.4 m
Height 4.5 m
Wing area 25.54 m² 274.9 ft²
Weights
Empty 6620 kg
Loaded 8720 kg
Maximum takeoff 14000 kg
Powerplant
Engines One Volvo Aero RM12 afterburning turbofan
Thrust 54 dry, 80 kN afterburn
Performance
Maximum speed Mach 2 at altitude
Combat range (max load) 500 miles 800 km
Service ceiling 50,000 ft 15,000 m
Rate of climb ft/min m/min
Thrust/weight 6.2 N/kg
Avionics
Avionics
Armament
Armament 27 mm Mauser BK-27 cannon
6 AIM-9 Sidewinder, 4 AIM-120 AMRAAM; or MICA
Air-to-ground weapons include: AGM-65 Maverick, KEPD 150, Various laser guided bombs, rocket pods, etc.
Air-to-sea weapons include: Rb15F
It will be the first fighter to test the new MBDA Meteor missile system