Tues. Apr. 20/10 Pace51
Real world facts about the Saab Gripen
I take full responsibility for any factual inaccuracies.
Expect more Real World Facts guides on European jets now, too. Also, I’m now going into extreme technological detail so that people unexperienced with planes can better understand. If someone wrote a guide about something I don’t completely understand, like for instance, Submarine’s, I’d want details too.
Maiden Flight: December 9, 1988
Armament: One internal 27mm cannon and one AIM-9 sidewinder on each wing tip, plus five hard points on which missiles, rockets, and bombs can be mounted.
Max. Speed: 2126 KpH
Country of Origin: Sweden
Manufacturer: Saab. Yes, they build jets.
Powered by: Volvo Aero Corporation/General Electric 8210kg afterburning thrust RM-12 turbojet.
Yes. Saab does build jets. You know on those cool Saab commercials that used to run? Well, they were telling the truth. Though I doubt your Saab sedan will turn into a Gripen at the press of a button. Shame, really. The Gripen specializes in getting the best of its enemy, and then blowing them to the afterlife.
It’s a lightweight multirole fighter, and shiny, and used to be the most advanced and capable single seat fighter in 2005. The only fighters that could match it were the F-16’s, the Mig’s, the Dassault Rafale’s, Eurofighter Typhoon’s, and other incredibly high performance aircraft. The Gripen has two Canard foreplanes on either side of the cockpit. Aa canard is a small wind shaped like a triangle, behind the nose but beside the cockpit. It can move, like a flap, and can be found on many aircraft with thrust vecotoring. Canards give a plane incredible agility. You know the J-10 and Eurofighter Typhoon in Bf2? Those funny looking fins on the front of the plane, in front of the delta wing, are Canards. In fact, the Gripen greatly resembles the Eurofighter Typhoon, although that’s only in aesthetics. The Gripen is also a delta winged aircraft. Instead of wings, elevators, and tailfins, this aircraft has one tailfin, and large triangular wings stretching across the aircraft, like the Typhoon or Rafale.
It was designed to replace the Swedish Air force’s aging Saab Viggens, also deadly delta winged fighters. The Gripen is a “ride” many fighter pilots would love to try out. Although it only breaks mach 2, it has killer handling. Also, its technology is much more advanced than its predecessors, much in the same way the F-16 was said to be technologically advanced compared to its predecessor’s as well. Gripen means “Griffen”, which is a suitable name. The aircraft sends info to the pilots via an onboard Tactical Information Data Link System that lets different tactical air squadron’s share data quickly. This means that it’s squadron’s can assess situations from different angles, and respond in kind. The cockpit is an ergonomics’ engineers dream, but Saab definitely made sure to take as much time as was needed to make the cockpit as useful as possible. Now, not huge amounts of people will know about this fighter. It’s top secret, and much of its data remains classified. The cockpit has Multi-Function displays and a large HUD. They are given light sensors to control brightness, and allow the pilot to respond very quickly to dangerous situations.
20 percent of the frame is constructed out of carbon composites. The Gripen has a low infra-red signature and a low radar signature, meaning that although it isn’t a stealth fighter, it’s not easily detectable. It has a long range Ericsson PS-05/A multi-mode pulse Doppler radar, letting it track multiple targets at the same time. It’s a deadly fighter and air-to-ground attack jet. It can take off from smaller strips and regular roads, allowing front-line insertion as quickly as possible. It’s also relatively cheap and quite easy to maintain. In June 1997, 200 Gripen’s were in service with Sweden. South Aafrica has also ordered copies.
Celebrity appearances: Featured in Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X.
Thanks Sheriff for the pictures.
Here are my sources:
Fighter Aircraft by Francis Crosby
Real world facts about the Saab Gripen
I take full responsibility for any factual inaccuracies.
Expect more Real World Facts guides on European jets now, too. Also, I’m now going into extreme technological detail so that people unexperienced with planes can better understand. If someone wrote a guide about something I don’t completely understand, like for instance, Submarine’s, I’d want details too.
Maiden Flight: December 9, 1988
Armament: One internal 27mm cannon and one AIM-9 sidewinder on each wing tip, plus five hard points on which missiles, rockets, and bombs can be mounted.
Max. Speed: 2126 KpH
Country of Origin: Sweden
Manufacturer: Saab. Yes, they build jets.
Powered by: Volvo Aero Corporation/General Electric 8210kg afterburning thrust RM-12 turbojet.
Yes. Saab does build jets. You know on those cool Saab commercials that used to run? Well, they were telling the truth. Though I doubt your Saab sedan will turn into a Gripen at the press of a button. Shame, really. The Gripen specializes in getting the best of its enemy, and then blowing them to the afterlife.
It’s a lightweight multirole fighter, and shiny, and used to be the most advanced and capable single seat fighter in 2005. The only fighters that could match it were the F-16’s, the Mig’s, the Dassault Rafale’s, Eurofighter Typhoon’s, and other incredibly high performance aircraft. The Gripen has two Canard foreplanes on either side of the cockpit. Aa canard is a small wind shaped like a triangle, behind the nose but beside the cockpit. It can move, like a flap, and can be found on many aircraft with thrust vecotoring. Canards give a plane incredible agility. You know the J-10 and Eurofighter Typhoon in Bf2? Those funny looking fins on the front of the plane, in front of the delta wing, are Canards. In fact, the Gripen greatly resembles the Eurofighter Typhoon, although that’s only in aesthetics. The Gripen is also a delta winged aircraft. Instead of wings, elevators, and tailfins, this aircraft has one tailfin, and large triangular wings stretching across the aircraft, like the Typhoon or Rafale.
It was designed to replace the Swedish Air force’s aging Saab Viggens, also deadly delta winged fighters. The Gripen is a “ride” many fighter pilots would love to try out. Although it only breaks mach 2, it has killer handling. Also, its technology is much more advanced than its predecessors, much in the same way the F-16 was said to be technologically advanced compared to its predecessor’s as well. Gripen means “Griffen”, which is a suitable name. The aircraft sends info to the pilots via an onboard Tactical Information Data Link System that lets different tactical air squadron’s share data quickly. This means that it’s squadron’s can assess situations from different angles, and respond in kind. The cockpit is an ergonomics’ engineers dream, but Saab definitely made sure to take as much time as was needed to make the cockpit as useful as possible. Now, not huge amounts of people will know about this fighter. It’s top secret, and much of its data remains classified. The cockpit has Multi-Function displays and a large HUD. They are given light sensors to control brightness, and allow the pilot to respond very quickly to dangerous situations.
20 percent of the frame is constructed out of carbon composites. The Gripen has a low infra-red signature and a low radar signature, meaning that although it isn’t a stealth fighter, it’s not easily detectable. It has a long range Ericsson PS-05/A multi-mode pulse Doppler radar, letting it track multiple targets at the same time. It’s a deadly fighter and air-to-ground attack jet. It can take off from smaller strips and regular roads, allowing front-line insertion as quickly as possible. It’s also relatively cheap and quite easy to maintain. In June 1997, 200 Gripen’s were in service with Sweden. South Aafrica has also ordered copies.
Celebrity appearances: Featured in Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X.
Thanks Sheriff for the pictures.
Here are my sources:
Fighter Aircraft by Francis Crosby
Last edited by pace51 (2010-04-20 11:23:21)
