The Swedish “Griffins” come to the rescueUkraine. There is more than just the possibility that the most powerful fighters, the most versatile and fastest in the world, will enter the conflict to counter the Russian invasion. It's about the Yes, 39 Gripen (Grifone) was developed in the past to replace the Viggen, the core of the Swedish Air Force, in various roles. A multi-role fighter that has received several export orders from around the world and on which Ukrainian army pilots train. Developed by SAAB Military Aircraft and co-marketed by SAAB and BAE Systems, the Gripen is a fourth-generation light multirole combat aircraft that features a delta canard configuration coupled with a fly-by-wire digital control system. The drive is provided by a modified version of the proven F404J turbofan, which was developed and produced by Volvo Glygmotor and is equipped with a new afterburner. Unlike the Viggen, the JAS 39A does not have a thrust reverser, but still has excellent short field capabilities. Ericsson has developed the JAS 39's advanced PS-05/A multimode pulse Doppler radar. The Gripen also features a wide-angle holographic HUD and a FLIR with pod for attack and reconnaissance missions.
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The workout
As the Kyiv Post reports, “Ukrainian pilots have already started familiarization training for Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets.” Air combat is taking shape as an alternative to the ground offensive. “Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, after meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, announced at a recent press conference that Ukrainian pilots are already flying Swedish aircraft and that they are getting closer to introducing the Gripen into our skies.” Designed to address a possible problem Combating Russia's invasion of Sweden in a northern climate could be a solution to Ukraine's air superiority problems. But the question of supplying these aircraft to Ukraine remains open. “This is particularly relevant in the context of the recent comment by Oleksiy Reznikov, Ukrainian Defense.” Minister, who stated that Ukrainian pilots have also started training on American F-16 fighter jets. Swedish Defense Minister Paul Jonson said Ukrainian pilots will receive both simulator and flight training on the Saab JAS 39 Gripen. This training will prepare them to deploy the fighter aircraft when the Ukrainian Air Force receives the jets. Learning the latest Western jet fighters will help our pilots adapt to modern digital cockpits and master integrated navigation, radar and communications systems.”
characteristics
At the same time, the Swedish Defense Minister spoke about the possibility of sending JAS 39 Gripen fighters to Ukraine. “The issue of supplying aircraft to Ukraine is not on the agenda, as the aircraft we have in Sweden are crucial for our national defense,” he said. However, it is not entirely ruled out that Sweden could send these aircraft to Ukraine. The Swedish Air Force has suffered cuts over the years; Meanwhile, production of the JAS 39 Gripen was in full swing. Sweden has decided not to cancel the new aircraft it has ordered. Therefore, after production, they went directly to the warehouse and not to the Air Force. Sweden has 204 Gripen fighters, but only 100 are in full-time service.
How do you work
The Saab JAS39 Gripen (“Griffen” in English) is particularly suitable for the conflict that Ukraine is waging. Each JAS 39 Gripen is equipped with a dedicated information exchange (Celsius Tech CDL 39 communications data link, compatible with NATO tactical data link systems such as Link 16) and a tactical area control system. Each pilot is able to know the position of other aircraft, their observations and plans for further action. Even if Sweden will not send the JAS 39 Gripen to Ukraine, the experience of the Ukrainian pilots will make it much easier to start working with the F-16. “After Ukrainian pilots learn the basics of controlling and using all systems of Swedish fighter aircraft, it will be easier for them to switch to US F-16s – again the analysis of the Kyiv Post – Gripen training of Swedish fighter aircraft will give our pilots the opportunity “to familiarize yourself with all systems and interfaces of Western fighter aircraft, which share many common characteristics, such as: B. the use of network information linked to NATO-compatible data that shows the entire air-to-ground battle space in multiple colors – functional visualizations.”
Efficiency
Ukrainian pilots know how to control an aircraft, take off and land, can perform maneuvers to defend against missile attacks, fly at extremely low altitudes and shoot accurately. This was recognized by American specialists, who highly praised the flying skills of the Ukrainian pilots. “Ukrainian pilots prove to be efficient even in outdated aircraft such as MiG-29, Su-25 or Su-27. Saab, the Swedish manufacturer of the Gripen, says flight crew and maintenance staff training for the JAS 39 will be twice as fast as the F-16. The JAS 39 Gripen is a fourth generation multi-role fighter designed and manufactured by the Swedish company SAAB. The JAS 39 was adopted by the Swedish Air Force in 1997, making it one of the newest fighters in the world. For example, the F-16 was introduced in 1978 and the MiG-29 in 1983.
When developing the Gripen, the goal was to create the most versatile aircraft that could handle most flight tasks. This multi-role capability is reflected in the JAS abbreviation: Jakt (Fighter), Attack (Assault), Spaning (Reconnaissance). This differs from the MiG-29s, which were built as short-range, point-defense interceptors. A special feature of these hunters is their maximum adaptability to the harsh climate of Scandinavia. These jets have excellent takeoff and landing characteristics, allowing them to take off from short runways and some prepared highway sections while withstanding the effects of severe cold. The advantage of Gripens is easy maintenance. The ability to launch from non-ideal airports and highways will save Ukraine from having to build new airports. When designing the aircraft, the engineers took into account the specific requirements of the Swedish Air Force. This allows the Gripen to take off from snow-covered runways 800 meters long and, under ideal conditions, the preparation time for the next flight (refueling, weapons change, inspection and maintenance) should not exceed 10 minutes.
“With the Army needing air support as quickly as possible, this factor is extremely important and could prove crucial. In addition, the Gripen is said to be very cost-effective. According to Swedish estimates, the cost per flight hour of the JAS 39 is only $4,700 compared to $7,000 per flight hour of the F-16. The general characteristics of the fighter are optimized for the interceptor. According to the SAAB company, the aircraft can fly supersonic without afterburners and with on-board weapons. According to experts, this is possible due to the low drag of the aircraft. The aircraft is equipped with the PS-05/A radar, which can detect a fighter-type air target at a distance of 120 km and track the movement of cars on the road or ships at sea from 70 km. The cockpit is equipped with a large display and three multifunctional color displays. In addition, all of the aircraft's important indicators are displayed on the helmet-mounted display. The Gripen is equipped with a system that optimizes the pilot's attention to the parameters of the aircraft and the environment”. All data is analyzed and made available to the pilot in real time.
The Gripens were exported to South Africa, where they carry a range of indigenous weapons and are also used by the Hungarian and Czech Air Forces. In 2013, Brazil opted for an improved Gripen NG. A total of 36 aircraft are to be delivered by 2023. The Gripen fighter can use almost the entire inventory of aircraft ammunition and missiles of NATO member countries. To combat air targets, the Gripen is equipped with AIM-120 missiles, which have a range of up to 120 kilometers. In addition, this aircraft can serve as a carrier of the British Storm Shadow cruise missiles with a range of more than 560 kilometers. This makes the Gripen a highly effective combat platform, ready to carry out a wide range of missions. “The tactics, techniques and procedures used by the Swedes meet the needs of Ukraine. Since Russia is actively bombing our military airfields, we must ensure the highest level of security for both aircraft that are already in the Ukrainian Air Force and those that will come to us.” will be transferred soon – again Ukrainian media – Therefore it is It is important for the allied countries to train not only our pilots, but also airport technicians and engineers. Given the capabilities and potential of the Ukrainian army, such tactics will help achieve a high level of security for our crews and our aircraft.”
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