As Saab celebrates its 70th birthday this year (and 50 years at the Paris Air Show), the company is on the verge of a major technology demonstration program of the Gripen NG that will ensure the viability of the JAS 39 Gripen fighter “well beyond 2040,” according to Gripen International managing director Johan Lehander.
Next week a proposal goes before the Swedish parliament covering the upgrade of 31 older JAS 39A/B aircraft to the current JAS 39C/D production standard. Allied to new production machines, that will bring the total number of C/Ds up to the Swedish air force’s requirement for 100 aircraft. The remaining older aircraft will become available for export. Included in the proposal is a Gripen Demo program to bring together and display a host of airframe/powerplant changes and new technologies. The Demo configuration greatly enhances the Gripen’s performance and load-carrying ability, and its avionics.
