Gripen E/F shifts focus from flight to sensor tests

Saab has shifted the focus of its Gripen E/F testing away from basic flight trials towards the aircraft’s tactical and sensor suites as the programme ramps up ahead of the first upcoming deliveries to Sweden and Brazil.

Seen at its rollout in 2017, the Gripen E is now moving into testing of its tactical mission systems ahead of delivery to the Swedish and Brazilian air forces. (Jane’s/Gareth Jennings)

Speaking at Saab’s annual Gripen Seminar on 26 March, the company’s head of the programme, Eddy de la Motte, said that, with flight-characteristic tests having proceeded to plan, the focus is now on validating the aircraft’s mission systems.

“We have six aircraft currently in flight testing and we passed 300 hours a couple of weeks ago. Flight testing is proceeding to plan and now the tactical suite and sensor systems are the testing focus – the radar, the infrared search and track [IRST], the electronic warfare [EW], and other mission systems,” de la Motte said.