the rafale is a larger twin engine plane with a higher price tag but saab is touting the single
engine plane as a much cheaper alternative saab also disclosed its bid price from last year
which it offered to finland to demonstrate its claim to a substantial price advantage
the single engine gripen has been penalized in the past for its raw performance
the gripen e is larger than its predecessor with more pylons and fuel capacity but this
is offset by a more powerful engine the gef-414 which replaces the f-404 in the previous model
the grip and e may have a similar appearance and feel to previous variants of the fighter
but it represents a substantial advancement that has led saab to
consider giving it an entirely new name the e-series as they are now
known continue the legacy of the original single-seat gripen a and two-seat b models
electronic warfare has become a major part of today's battle scenario
it has evolved dramatically since the days of basic radio communication interference
to gain an advantage in conflict air forces around the world seek
to manipulate and potentially control the entire electromagnetic spectrum
saab claims that the eu suite integrates seamlessly in each gripen aircraft allowing
pilots to act independently without the assistance of a dedicated eu aircraft additionally the gripen
e is the first fighter jet to have an aesa radar housed on a rotating swash plate or repositioner
this extends the range of the aesa and allows the pilot to aim at the target without actually
pointing it it also reduces the chances of the enemy launching missiles at the aircraft
the swashplate allows the pilot to launch the missile beyond visual
range and then make a 90-degree turn it also provides midway updates for fired missiles
this is a tremendous tactical advantage when used in conjunction with meteor
grip e does not incorporate the geometric stealth design characteristics as saab believes that as
software and hardware technology advances stealth aircraft will eventually become clearer to radar
systems the manufacturer claims to provide the aircraft with a digital shield the goal
is to build and improve systems constantly and dynamically to address perceived threats
the incorporated ews which is paired with a 360 degree missile approach warning system
integrates active and passive systems to help protect the aircraft additionally a
gripen engine can be changed in under an hour by a small team of technicians refueling takes about
10 minutes and a fighter aircraft may be ready for the next air-to-air operation in 10 minutes