(Luft) Saab Gripen

[Quintus Fabius]

Die Gripen E wurde zudem in Bezug auf ihre Flügel etwas überarbeitet:

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/he...ew-in-size

“At an early stage in the development process, an opportunity was identified to improve Gripen’s heavy load-carrying capabilities, as a clear benefit to future operations. A decision was made to implement this enhancement as quickly as possible. We have made updates to the software and some modifications affecting canard and elevon surfaces. These changes bring immediate benefits, prove our ability to reliably deliver growth, and consistently improve aircraft’s potential for the future.”

According to Segertoft “The new design features have already been added to some of these aircraft and successful flight trials have been completed.” Segertoft also confirmed that the modification “will become the standard configuration going forward in all production aircraft for Sweden, Brazil, and other customers.”

As to the benefits that the new wing will bring, Saab has emphasized that it will boost the Gripen E’s ability to carry heavier loads, in the form of external weapons, fuel tanks, and other stores. For a smaller fighter like the Gripen, this is clearly a considerable bonus, although it’s not clear at this point how it will change the kinds of loads that it can carry. It’s worth noting, too, that the Gripen E can already carry some fairly heavy loads, including up to four of the big Saab RBS 15 anti-ship missiles. Other heavy loads include up to nine air-to-air missiles, or 16 Small Diameter Bombs, albeit at the expense of external fuel.