Swedish Air Force Will Need 60 to 80 New Next-Generation JAS Gripen Fighters

The Swedish Air Force will require at least 60 to 80 next-generation JAS Gripen fighters to replace its present Gripen fleet. The replacement process should begin no later than 2020, according to a report presented by the Armed Forces Command (AFC) to the Ministry of Defense.

The report was given to the Parliamentary Defense Committee (PDC) on March 15.

JAS Gripen will meet the Armed Forces' operational needs at least to 2040, and the system should be the core of the Swedish air defense. Sweden needs at least 60-80 aircraft.

This is the conclusion of the Armed Forces analysis submitted to the government today.

As part of the efforts to develop alternatives and different configurations, the Gripen has been tested in extensive simulations and operational wargames against both known and anticipated future threats.

The upgrade of the combat aircraft system should start in 2020 and is expected to take ten years. A requirement to meet the funding is being made with at least one strategic partner country.

“Discussions will soon begin about costs, so it would be wrong to now openly say how much we estimate it will cost,” says Sverker Goranson, Supreme Commander.

The upgraded JAS 39 Gripen will have a larger airframe and a more powerful engine. This is to allow for more and more fuel arms which in turn leads to higher power and durability.

The analysis also suggested a more qualified and better radar warning and countermeasure systems.

The upgrading of the JAS Gripen is needed to ensure that Sweden’s combat air system should remain operationally relevant, and that our air defenses in the long run are able to hold its own compared to other countries.

During 2011 and so far this year a very extensive planning work has been undertaken, including the upgrade and a review of the defense structure.

With the results of this analysis now on the table, we are now beginning work on computing the Armed Forces' long-term financial needs. The Armed Forces intend to report on this issue no later than May 2.

In a separate proposal to government, the armed forces propose that some logistics functions be handed over to the Defence Materiel Administration (FMV). The activities concerned are essentially purchasing, administrative support, supply and engineering services, and currently employ about 1,500 Armed Forces employees.

The purpose of the transfer is to save money that can then be used for operational activities. The proposals submitted include a joint proposal by the Armed Forces and the Defence Materiel Administration.

Economically, the Armed Forces budget is in balance through 2015, subject to appropriations savings that may be exercised and that the savings associated with the defense structure investigation are effectively achieved.

The planning is based therefore on that 300 million kroner are from the allocation for foreign operations to the allocation for joint fiscal years 2014 and 2015.

Military Chief Aims to Update Air Defenses
   
Sverker Göranson, Sweden’s chief of defense, wants to buy new and improved fighter jets for the future but would ultimately reduce the number of aircraft for the Swedish military.

Göranson presented his future defense analysis to parliament today asking for between 60-80 new fighter jets to be procured from 2020 to 2030. Sweden has about 100 fighter jets today.

“We are in the process of building a flexible defense,” he told Swedish Radio News. “If we want an air force after 2020 that is still relevant we need to rebuild it.”

But Göranson could not say how much this would cost. The analysis he presented states the most efficient way is to modify the current fleet of JAS 39 Gripen to better suit future needs.

However, this would only be profitable if one or more countries would be willing to contribute to the development of a new system of planes and supporting technology.

But Allan Wideman, defense spokesman for the Liberal Party, said buying fewer airplanes would demand a lot from the new system.

“He (Göranson) says that it would be a matter of improving the ability. If you compare it to today’s system when we have about 100 planes it is a noticeable reduction,” he told Swedish Radio News.

In fact, Wideman added, reducing the number of planes would require so many updates to today’s Jas Gripen that it would in fact be a completely new aircraft.


Armed Forces Want to Upgrade Gripen

JAS Gripen will meet the Armed Forces' operational needs at least to 2040, and the system should be the core of the Swedish air defense. Sweden needs at least 60-80 aircraft.

This is the conclusion of the Armed Forces analysis submitted to the government today.

As part of the efforts to develop alternatives and different configurations, the Gripen has been tested in extensive simulations and operational wargames against both known and anticipated future threats.

The upgrade of the combat aircraft system should start in 2020 and is expected to take ten years. A requirement to meet the funding is being made with at least one strategic partner country.

“Discussions will soon begin about costs, so it would be wrong to now openly say how much we estimate it will cost,” says Sverker Goranson, Supreme Commander.

The upgraded JAS 39 Gripen will have a larger airframe and a more powerful engine. This is to allow for more and more fuel arms which in turn leads to higher power and durability.

The analysis also suggested a more qualified and better radar warning and countermeasure systems.

The upgrading of the JAS Gripen is needed to ensure that Sweden’s combat air system should remain operationally relevant, and that our air defenses in the long run are able to hold its own compared to other countries.

During 2011 and so far this year a very extensive planning work has been undertaken, including the upgrade and a review of the defense structure.

With the results of this analysis now on the table, we are now beginning work on computing the Armed Forces' long-term financial needs. The Armed Forces intend to report on this issue no later than May 2.

In a separate proposal to government, the armed forces propose that some logistics functions be handed over to the Defence Materiel Administration (FMV). The activities concerned are essentially purchasing, administrative support, supply and engineering services, and currently employ about 1,500 Armed Forces employees.

The purpose of the transfer is to save money that can then be used for operational activities. The proposals submitted include a joint proposal by the Armed Forces and the Defence Materiel Administration.

Economically, the Armed Forces budget is in balance through 2015, subject to appropriations savings that may be exercised and that the savings associated with the defense structure investigation are effectively achieved.

The planning is based therefore on that 300 million kroner are from the allocation for foreign operations to the allocation for joint fiscal years 2014 and 2015.


Source: Helsinki - 01 March 2012 - Radio Sweden News & Swedish Defence Force News

Photo: Swedish Air Force JAS 39 Gripen (Photo by Swedish AF)

(3/2/2012)