Technical Summary

Aircraft data:

Length (excluding pitot tube): 14.1m (46ft 3in)
Length (Two-Seat variant): 14.8m (48ft 5in)
Wing span (including launchers): 8.4m (27ft 6in)
Height overall: 4.5m (14ft 8in)
Maximum take-off weight: 14 tonnes
Maximum speed: M2.0 and supersonic at all altitudes

Gripen 3D Cut-Away

Key Features:

  • Advanced aerodynamic combining a close coupled canard-delta configuration.  
  • Lightweight structure employing advanced materials and construction techniques.  
  • The world´s most highly developed data link.  
  • Triplex, digital fly-by-wire Flight Control System for optimum combat agility. 
  • Fully-integrated avionic systems operating via five MIL-STD 1553B digital data bus highways. 
  • Advanced cockpit layout with large color Multi-Function Displays (MFDs) and Hands-On-Throttle-And-Stick (HOTAS) controls. 
  • Long range Ericsson PS-05/A multi-mode, pulse doppler radar. 
  • Powerful, fuel efficient, Volvo Aero Corporation RM12 turbofan engine. 
  • On Board Oxygen Generation System (OBOGS) and Air-to-Air Refueling (AAR). 
  • Low visual radar and Infra-Red (IR) signatures.  
  • Heavy and varied weapons load covering all mission parameters - Air-to-Air, Air-to-Ground, Air-to-Sea, Reconnaissance and Advanced Tactical Training - an unrivalled mix of simplicity and sophistication. 
  • 50% lower operating costs than its best competitor.  
  • “On-condition" maintenance.  
  • Capable of operating from simple road bases and dispersed bases with the minimum of maintenance personnel and ground support equipment.

Cockpit and Display System:

The Gripen cockpit is dominated by three large, full color, Multi-Function Displays (MFDs) and a wide angle diffractive optics Head-Up Display (HUD) with a holographic combiner. A highly efficient human-machine interface has been integrated into the Gripen to substantially ease pilot workload, particularly in combat situations. This provides a Gripen pilot with outstanding situation awareness, ensuring unrivalled operational effectiveness. It also increases the time available for tactical decision-making allowing the pilot to use the aircraft and weapons system to maximum effect.

The main functions of each display are as follows:
Head-Up Display (HUD) - providing FLIR imagery and weapon aiming information superimposed on the outside world at all altitudes.
Flight Data Display (FDD) - provides flight data and system status information about the engine, fuel and external stores.  
Horizontal Situation Display (HSD) - provides navigational and tactical mission data superimposed on an electronic map of selectable scale.  
Multi-Sensor Display (MSD) - presents information from the radar, FLIR imagery and other sensors. Flight and fire control data are also superimposed.

Radar:

The primary sensor of the Gripen target acquisition/weapons aiming system is the long range Ericsson PS-05/A radar. The Gripen radar is a compact, long-range, high performance multi-mode pulse doppler radar with a modular architecture and high reliability, offering high resolution, excellent look-down performance and good Electronic Counter-Counter Measures (ECCM) capabilities. Using state-of-the-art technology, including fully programmable signal and data processors, the radar is able to handle all types of air defence, air-to-surface and reconnaissance missions with built in growth potential to meet future requirements.

Powerplant:

The Volvo Aero Corporation RM12 is a modular, fuel efficient, low bypass ratio afterburning turbofan in the 80 KN (18,000lb) thrust class. It is based on the General Electric F-404-400 which has attained several million flight hours in operations world wide - with several enhancements incorporated by Volvo including increased thrust and bird strike resistance.