Gripen Expands Its Advanced Weapons Capabilities
The Gripen weapons integration program is constantly evolving. With precision guided munitions testing essentially complete, the development team will soon start work with the Meteor advanced beyond visual range air-to-air missile.
Throughout late 2004 and into 2005, much of the Gripen test team’s development work has been focussed on meeting the needs of the Czech and Hungarian Air Forces.
This same work is linked with the Swedish Air Force’s own requirements and will ensure that all Gripen operators have a common capability standard for weapons and systems.
Gripen’s precision weapons system is almost fully cleared for service and will be one of the core capabilities delivered to the Hungarian Air Force. To date the Czech Air Force has not contracted for an air-to-ground weapons fit, but Czech pilots will still be able to train for the air-to-ground role using Gripen’s existing onboard systems.
Hungarian Gripens will be cleared to use the Litening III laser designation pod (LDP) along with GBU-10, GBU-12 and GBU-16 Paveway II laser guided bombs (LGBs). The Gripens will have a full night-attack/all-weather precision guided munition (PGM) capability.
For the air-to-air mission, Hungary plans to acquire the latest model of the Raytheon AIM-120C-5 AMRAAM beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile.
In December 2004 the Hungarian MoD announced that it intended to acquire 40 AMRAAMs. Gripen is already cleared for the AIM-120B variant, so only a small amount of integration work will be needed to qualify the AIM-120C.
Hungary will issue a tender for more air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons during 2005. These are expected to include the AGM-65 Maverick missile and a new short-range air-to-air missile (AAM) – weapons for which the Gripen is already cleared.
Two more vital elements of the Gripen’s future weapons capability will start their system testing later this year. The first of these is the Cobra helmet-mounted display (HMD), which is an important addition to Gripen’s air-to-air, and air-to-ground weapons suite. Using the HMD a Gripen pilot will be able to use the next-generation of agile dogfight AAMs to full effect. The HMD will also be able to designate targets on the ground for PGM attacks.
In May the Gripen test team plan to start initial flight tests with the MBDA Missile Systems Meteor advanced beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM). Gripen will undertake all the initial live-firing trials of the ramjet-powered Meteor, with the first launch scheduled for late 2005.
Source: DefenceTalk News
Link:
http://www.defencetalk.com/news/publish/article_003129.php
