Saab Promotes Gripen-E Jet's Unique Split Avionics for Swift Indian Missile Integration and Adaptability, Boosting MRFA Position with 100% ToT

Saab Aeronautics is actively promoting its Gripen-E fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) major procurement plan, known as the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) tender, which seeks to acquire 114 advanced jets.

The Swedish aerospace company highlights the Gripen-E's distinct design features, particularly its capacity for rapid adaptation and seamless integration with weapons manufactured in India, such as the Astra series of air-to-air missiles.

A key official from Saab Aeronautics, Per-Olof Marklund, Director and Head of Technology and Innovation, pointed out the aircraft's highly flexible and open avionics system.

This design, described as a "split avionics architecture," is unique to the Gripen-E. It allows for the swift incorporation of new weapons and sensor systems, potentially reducing integration times significantly compared to traditional fighter jet designs.

This adaptability is presented as a major advantage for India, supporting the nation's push for self-reliance in defence production under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

The split avionics system separates the aircraft's essential flight control systems from its mission-specific equipment, such as sensors and weapons. This modular approach, combined with standardized software interfaces within the Mission System Software (MSS), enables a "plug-and-play" capability.

According to Saab, this means new weapons, including India's own Astra Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missiles (BVRAAM) – encompassing the existing Mk-1 (110 km range), the upcoming Mk-2 (160 km), and the future ramjet-powered Mk-3 (planned 350 km range) – can be integrated quickly without needing complex software overhauls.

Other potential integrations mentioned include the Rudram anti-radiation missile, Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW), and the compact BrahMos-NG missile.

Beyond weapon flexibility, the Gripen-E is equipped with advanced sensors providing pilots with comprehensive situational awareness. These include the Leonardo Raven ES-05 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and the Skyward-G Infrared Search and Track (IRST) system, alongside a modern electronic warfare suite for defence against sophisticated threats, including stealth aircraft.

Saab also emphasizes the aircraft's operational reliability, citing a 93% mission-capable rate, which translates to a high number of available aircraft for missions, a crucial factor for the IAF given the regional security environment.

Supporting India's industrial ambitions, Saab's proposal includes a full 100% Transfer of Technology (ToT). This involves establishing local production facilities in India, reportedly in partnership with the Adani Group, and sharing critical source codes. This comprehensive offer aims to help India build a robust domestic aerospace manufacturing base.

Furthermore, the Gripen-E's design adheres to NATO standards, ensuring interoperability with other systems used by the IAF, like its Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS).

Saab states the architecture is built for future growth, ready to incorporate advancements like artificial intelligence (AI) for enhanced targeting and networked warfare capabilities, aligning with the IAF’s long-term operational plans towards 2035.

Saab positions the Gripen-E as a technologically advanced, adaptable, and strategically aligned option for India's future fighter fleet requirements.

 

BDL Accelerates Astra Mk1 Production to Bolster IAF's Long-Range Air Power Amid Tensions with Pakistan

[Mc Addy]

Yes, this is the most viable option along with LCA and Rafael as many components and weapon systems match both ,its a proven jet and is good for Air superiory definitely and is capable of STOL from remote runways unlike the rest that fly from long runways. Many plus points but yes , we do need. Rafaels , close to 40 so that many matters can be addressed.should buy or make 200 of Gripens .

 

[Imaxxx]

Yea...buy fighter jets from the same company that supplies Erieye to Pakistan.
The number of articles Raghav Patel and Defence.in are publishing in favourable of Gripen...wonder what's going on

 

[Mc Addy]

Yea...buy fighter jets from the same company that supplies Erieye to Pakistan.
The number of articles Raghav Patel and Defence.in are publishing in favourable of Gripen...wonder what's going on

Many have same weapons from same country, trained by same people but the use is what decides the outcome. Combat of jets is not about the plane but the mission planning. Most surprising is case of Rafael , which the Pakistani flew first and rejected ,way before anyone as they have been flying Mirage 3 series for long time, the only french combat jets we flew had been Elizee for Navy and later Jaguar from Europe consortium.Eurofighter typhoon would have been a logical choice post Jaguar but we went for some small number of Rafels due to myopic planning so now making taking talking what not for jets is on and will go one till 2035. We are in soup nothing else.

 

[Mc Addy]

Pakistan has no capacity of war with us nor does China despite its size but the shear distance from its mainland to our borders , poor quality of troops and it's preoccupation on it sea front and economic market in India makes it unlikely to attack full on . There will be no war as non got capabilities as see in Russia Ukraine, Israel Gaza ,that even a 90km strip of land cannot be controlled by Israel, even after 6 months so aim of war is not punishment but defeat of aim of enemy or it will return like Germany did post WW1 and screwed the whole Europe ,paving way for freedom for rest of the world .Aim is what's war is all about .

 

[John Titor]

Sounds pretty good to me but since I'm new to this platform I'll appreciate it if someone who thinks otherwise share their opinion in the comments.

 

[Somnath Sinhababu]

MRFA will not happen. It's dead. IAF has already told the government to buy 40 Rafales under a government-to-government deal. That's why the French minister is also coming, but it has been postponed because of the current India-Pakistan situation. The US is also pressurising India for F-35. The US Vice President recently visited India and pitched F-35 and met many Air Force officials. Let's assume if MRFA happens, I am sure the US will steal the deal because India needs the US right now.

 

[Kira]

Too late now.

 

[Radha Ramanan]

The Tejas MK2 will be equal to the Gripen E version in all ways. SAAB does not want another competitor, that's all. The only thing I suspect will not be equal is the performance. But let us see if ADE has learnt some lessons from the LCA and refined it. Though Saab is a world leader in EW, we have Israel with the latest Scorpius jamming pod and many other goodies. The Israeli BNET SDR is cutting edge and that will give us net-centric operations better than that claimed by the Gripen, which seems to be a big selling point. We have the Astra 3 to equal the Meteor and the Astra 2 as well. We have the ASRAAM as well. It will have the HALBIT wide-area display like what the Gripen has, and equal man-machine interface as lessons learnt from the Rafale and the LCA MK1A.

 

[DNA57]

But, if I am not wrong Gripen is powered by GE engine. So, same supply chain issue may arise again in future due to geopolitical changes !

 

[sujith sudhakaran]

But, if I am not wrong Gripen is powered by GE engine. So, same supply chain issue may arise again in future due to geopolitical changes !

From what I know, the Gripen uses a locally produced variant of the F414, and the F414 is still in production, unlike the F404 that's shut down.

 

[sujith sudhakaran]

If we purchased the Gripen back in 2014, we could've easily shaved a few years off the Tejas Mark 2 program, seeing how Gripen is of the same class and capabilities as the Mark 2. We could've easily absorbed the ToT.

 

[Sandeep]

SAAB is too late. They only offered this desperate deal to try and win the contract as we have manufactured the Tejas MK2 and it’s going through its tests and trials. The Tejas MK2 is a direct competitor and SAAB knows that indigenous weapons and technology get chosen over foreign weapons and technology and our jet will be much better and cheaper as well. India should ignore this deal as we will be getting our own indigenous Tejas MK2 jet with over 90% of indigenous content used which will increase further.

 

[EMD XD41/06MAC]

We don't need any Rafale or any Gripen over here! We have a Tejas Mk2, as well as the upcoming HLFT-42, which are equally capable as these two. What we need is a 6G engine-powered AMCA as well as the Su-57/F-35 powered by a similar counterpart (6G engine). While the AL-51 (Izdeliye-30) is 6G capable as well, the US' 6G adaptive cycle engines for the F-35 - the XA-100/101/102/103 are still under development. So, better to buy the Su-57MEI (Modernized Export for India) to complement the AMCA.

 

[Surfer]

Too late now.

Yes, it's too late for any foreign 4th gen jet like Rafale, we will soon have comparable locally made 4.5 Tejas MK2. If at all we buy any foreign jet, it should only be 5th gen jets.