![]() ![]() Modern conflicts and smarter fightersįighting in modern conflicts requires being constantly one step ahead of opponents. These will include new generation weapons, sensors, functional materials, and multi-spectral stealth technology. By the mid 2040s we should expect to see a new generation of air systems. Saab has already conducted test flights using 100 per cent biofuel and manufacturing processes are constantly being enhanced to make them more environmentally sustainable.Īmong the promising candidate areas for future Gripen development are enhanced sensors and weapons, complementary unmanned components and autonomous control enabling missions that see interaction between manned and unmanned aircraft. By applying new materials and rethinking the design and manufacturing we can reduce the cost,” says Övrebö.Įnvironmental considerations have also been addressed in designing Gripen of the future. “The airframe constitutes around twenty-five percent of the total cost of a current fighter. The future Gripen and its successors will benefit from the technologies being developed now. These include airframes that are regularly and easily replaced, while the inside of the fighter continues to be developed and enhanced. Today, taking advantage of new functional materials such as nanotechnology, and huge advances in manufacturing and development, future fighters may one day have radically different properties. "It's the re-education of the mindset," explains Knut Övrebö. When it comes to the future design of Gripen, designer have to forecast the technological trends that can help Saab take the aircraft further. At this time, the research included investigating ideas about extending sensing capabilities, weapons capacity, missile range and the endurance of the fighter. Knut Övrebö describes the evolution of Gripen from the late 1970s, where designers in the Saab Aeronautics design department “basically had a blank sheet of paper to fill”, up to 1993 and the initial exploration of what Gripen could look like in the future. It’s clear that Gripen has been designed with a long-term future in mind. “I’m imagining what could be feasible with this aircraft well beyond my own retirement, in a timeframe far into the future, because Gripen is being constantly enhanced and improved,” adds Övrebö. Upgrades are essential, but it’s also essential that they are easy to manage, quick to implement and affordable to sustain for today, and for the future. Technology is advancing rapidly and thereby also the threats, so to ensure that a modern combat aircraft doesn’t become obsolete in ten years after its launch, it must be adaptable. "This combined strength and diversity of business units makes Saab unique compared to competitors in the fighter market.” But most key enabling systems, including all systems that are deemed strategically vital, can actually be delivered by other Saab business areas. ![]() Other parts such as computers, displays, sensors and weapons, must be procured from elsewhere. The actual hardware that Aeronautics produce is generally limited to the airframe and the structure. This is where all technical disciplines merge into an optimised solution." Knut Övrebö, Chief Engineer at Future Air Systems, Saab business area Aeronautics.Īs Övrebö explains, “The systems integration hub is where Saab excels compared to others. This allows the rapid integration of new technology and functions as they are developed, in order to take on and defeat new combat challenges without excessive cost or downtime. Gripen E's platform has a modular design that can be easily adapted, to utilize future solutions that doesn't necessarily have to be built in-house. ![]() Knowing that the key to the longevity of Gripen would be its platform-the initial technology on which the plane is based-the conceptual designers made it open architecture. I am part of a team that is developing a product that is regularly enhanced to keep it at its best over 40 years.” Key to longevity - Adaptable, open architecture It is designed to remain at the forefront of capabilities for decades. “How many people drive a car that is more than 15 years old?”, asks Knut Övrebö, Chief Engineer at Future Air Systems, Saab business area Aeronautics. For Gripen that's not a problem since that way of thinking is in the DNA of Gripen from the beginning. That means they need to adapt to each significant new technology and threat that comes along to change the way a fighter jet operates. Because fighters represent an extensive investment for governments, it is vital that they remain effective and operationally competitive throughout their entire time in service. ![]()
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