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Aviation History
1986
1986 - 1473.PDF
REATES THE FIRST JLTIROLE FIGHTER. * •rol • Lit I is < < lira he next century's first multi- role fighter is the JAS 39 Gripen. Like the Saab SF 340, its design completely new. The JAS con- * I tract is a firm commitment from the Swedish Government to the pro gram. In 1987, when the Gripen flies for the first time, it will herald a new era in Y combat aircraft and air defence. The Gripen will weigh only half as much as *its predecessor, the Saab 37 Viggen, but its overall capabilities in performance, k firepower and ease of maintenance will be superior. 'What Does Multirole Really Mean? In Swedish, the letters JAS • stand for Interceptor, Attack and Rec onnaissance — the three main roles of L this aircraft. Each role has its own speci fic requirements and they have, until now, come into conflict. A pure fighter * has a somewhat different profile than a pure attack aircraft which, in turn, dif- - fers from the ideal reconnaissance air craft. Gripen, however, combines these three roles in such a way that conversion from one to another can be achieved jjirnply by selecting a suitable computer ' program in the aircraft and the proper weapons. This multirole capability is es- . sential for a small country with long frontiers where air power is of prime im portance. The Technology Behind the Con cept. The engine is an adapted version of the General Electric F404. It has been modified for the JAS 39 Gripen to meet additional Swedish requirements. Com posites are used in the aircraft structure to reduce weight while simultane ously providing desirable aeroelastic ' characteristics. Gripen's extensive com puter systems controlling the aircraft it self and its weapons far outstrip what was available in its predecessors. The pi lot's environment and the systems used to provide him with information incor porate completely new design concepts ' — including fly-by-wire. The JAS 39 Gripen is far more than a multirole air- < craft — it is one of the cornerstones of a new defence system. • «•»>.. '- The Saab 37 Viggen. Completely new design concepts for pilot information make the new JAS 39 Gripen one of the world's most advanced multirole aircraft.
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