Saab Offers Gripen E with 7 Meteor Missiles for India's MRFA Competition, Promising Strategic Edge for IAF

In the hotly contested race to supply India's Air Force with 114 new Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA), Saab has presented a compelling offer: the Gripen E fighter jet equipped with the capability to carry up to seven Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles (BVRAAM) simultaneously. This, Saab asserts, will provide the IAF with a decisive tactical advantage in aerial combat.

The Meteor missile, developed by MBDA, is considered one of the most advanced BVRAAMs currently available. Its active radar seeker and ramjet propulsion provide exceptional range and maneuverability, allowing it to engage high-speed, maneuvering targets with high accuracy.

Crucially, the Meteor boasts the largest "no-escape zone" of any missile in its class, making it extremely difficult for adversaries to evade once locked on.

Saab emphasizes that the Gripen E is specifically designed to integrate seamlessly with advanced weaponry like the Meteor. The fighter jet's avionics, weapon control systems, and data links are optimized for compatibility with the missile's guidance and propulsion systems.

Furthermore, the Gripen E features cutting-edge AESA radar and electronic warfare systems, enhancing its ability to detect, track, and engage distant targets.

The ability to carry seven Meteor missiles is a key selling point for Saab. This unprecedented loadout would allow IAF pilots to engage multiple targets in a single sortie, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing the need for frequent rearming. This capability could be particularly valuable in scenarios requiring the IAF to secure large airspaces or counter multiple airborne threats rapidly.

The MRFA competition is a critical defence procurement program for India, aimed at modernizing the IAF's fighter fleet and maintaining its technological edge. The Gripen E faces stiff competition from other contenders, including Dassault's Rafale, Boeing's F-15EX and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Lockheed Martin's F-21, and Russia's MiG-35.

Potential Tactical Advantages for the IAF​

• Reduced Mission Turnaround Time: The Gripen E's extended engagement capacity allows for a higher sortie generation rate, crucial in prolonged conflicts.
• Extended Engagement Capability: With seven BVRAAMs, the Gripen E can neutralize multiple airborne threats in a single sortie, enhancing mission effectiveness.
• Force Multiplier Effect: The ability to engage multiple targets with a single aircraft increases efficiency and reduces the number of aircraft required for patrol and interception duties.
• Enhanced Situational Awareness: The combination of the Gripen E's advanced sensors and the Meteor's long range enhances the IAF's ability to detect and intercept threats before they enter Indian airspace.

 

[Akshat]

Even if they can produce 4 jets a year like their CEO has claimed, which is unlikely, it will take about 6-7 years to complete their current orders. Ofcourse India can easily take another 6-7 years to decide so....

Well firstly, it’s 3 jets a month and they can climb to 4 jets a month if new orders come.

Secondly, they don’t have to clear the backlog in the next 6 years. They have to do that by 2034. So there is gonna be surplus capacity from 2025 or 2026. This year and the next they have to make 20 planes each. So if they do reach even 20 this year and 30 next, they will have to barely do 22-23 each year till 2034. That leaves some 140+ excess planes by 2034. Or about 13-14 per year.

 

[PKPRS]

I feel India missed the bus on the Rafale. The deal with India opened the doors for Dassault, it now has a hugh order backlog.

Yes 235 order backlog, No more $350Mln 4th gen bus, i am glad we missed that bus, from now on only future 5th gen bus.

 

[PKPRS]

Win win option will be India buying Rafel 4R assembled in India may be 54 and 26 Rafel M assembled India. Hope it will materialise. Only then we can think of Rafel 5R if there is a need

it will cost $50Bln to buy 114 Rafale F4 and a 15 Year wait. why waste so much money on. a obsolete 4th gen technology.

 

[Sandeep]

India isn’t going to buy anymore foreign jets. What we need to do is focus on manufacturing our own indigenous jets which is more important. Unless we go through the difficult process of developing a jet we will always remain and rely on foreign expensive imports.

 

[vivek manjeshwar]

it will cost $50Bln to buy 114 Rafale F4 and a 15 Year wait. why waste so much money on. a obsolete 4th gen technology.

Not 114 only 54 4R plus 26 Rafel M assembled in India. Hopefully then we will have Tejas mk2... Just a wishful thinking

 

[divine]

it will cost $50Bln to buy 114 Rafale F4 and a 15 Year wait. why waste so much money on. a obsolete 4th gen technology.

quite simply because the price and manufacturing time are wrong, as usual, and the grippen is not capable of having sufficient longevity against the rafale, but that would require some knowledge of the grippen and the rafale, which you obviously don't have.

 

[PKPRS]

Not 114 only 54 4R plus 26 Rafel M assembled in India. Hopefully then we will have Tejas mk2... Just a wishful thinking

Then we need $60Bln to buy 4th gen jets, when Countries are moving to 6th gen jets.

 

[PKPRS]

quite simply because the price and manufacturing time are wrong, as usual, and the grippen is not capable of having sufficient longevity against the rafale, but that would require some knowledge of the grippen and the rafale, which you obviously don't have.

But Gripen is 1/3rd the price and Indians can buy 114 jets and they are immediately available and all 114 jets will be delivered by 2029, 25/Year, on the other hand we can only buy 50-60 Rafales gor $20Bln and will have to wait till Dassault delivers 235 Rafales to export customers @10-12 Year and then start making for us.

 

[MF]

That was the base price. Brazilian auditors put the final amount paid by Brazilian government at 9.1 billion USD.

I repeat! Stop insisting on sharing lies! The Gripen acquisition cost cost Brazil 5.4 billion dollars, a slightly higher value when compared to the initial offer (4.5 billion) due to modifications requested by the Brazilian Air Force.
The 9.1 billion dollars you mention refers to the amount that Brazil is receiving in compensation projects, that is, industrial, technological and economic counterparts, in order to obtain technology transfer and develop its local aeronautical industry.

 

[M.H.]

Really? I remember reading somewhere that the deal with Brazil was around 4.8 Billion dollars for 36 jets.

In fact, the cost was slightly higher (US$5.4 billion), since the Brazilian Air Force requested changes to the design after the contract was signed, but still lower than what some here say, since the South American country chose not to only receive the aircraft but also to participate in part of its development. Among the competitors (Dassault Rafale and Boeing F/A-18), the Saab model was the one that presented the best cost-benefit, including technology transfer.

 

[basil1891]

In fact, the cost was slightly higher (US$5.4 billion), since the Brazilian Air Force requested changes to the design after the contract was signed, but still lower than what some here say, since the South American country chose not to only receive the aircraft but also to participate in part of its development. Among the competitors (Dassault Rafale and Boeing F/A-18), the Saab model was the one that presented the best cost-benefit, including technology transfer.

One may also remember recent Finnish competition for 64 fighter jets, for the given sum:
- Saab proposed 64x Gripen E + 2x GlobalEye (that's like ~$700mln, or 10 more fighters)
- Dassault proposed only 56x fighters (https://meta-defense.fr/2021/06/07/le-rafale-serait-en-bonne-position-en-suisse/)
So yea, tell me about expensive Gripen and cheap Rafale, lol

 

[kunites]

Is 7 meteor missiles in a sortie such a big deal to push for Gripen?.. F21, Rafale, Typhoon, F 15 all can carry 7 or more AAMs. While Gripen is an excellent aircraft ..it is still second best in capabilities and performance to Rafale, which is choice of IAF, if procured in good numbers will be a strong deterrent for our neighbours and their 5 Gen aircrafts until we mature our MK2 and AMCA platforms.. We already have an ecosystem for Rafale and can setup assembly lines in India to increase production rate

 

[P2S2]

Imho, to gain at least some chances in India, Gripen have first to be tested/proven in Ukraine battlefield. It's worth by itself, but doing so against Su-35S/Su-57 should reinforce the statement. Sadly, very little chance for it to happen soon - obsolete F-16/Mirage will come first and Gripen 39C, only maybe, later..

When sun shines buying over the counter increases additional dividends increasing local knowhow quickest. The needs for education, research, training gets shortcircuited. Downside is being taken for a fool. That's unlikely. Corruption is unlikely from those wishing for long term business. It can introduce Scandinavian thinking into a plethora of technical advances. Hopefully it will introduce new research.