Gripen Demo makes its maiden flight
Since the Gripen Demo was presented, the programme has proceeded with ground trials and continual evaluations in order to guarantee flight safety. Tuesday´s flight took place in good weather from Saab´s airfield in Linköping. Maximum altitude for the first flight was 6,400 meters and maximum speed was 320 knots.
“Everything went according to plan. The Gripen Demo is more powerful compared to earlier versions of Gripen but is just as easily flown. We look forward to continuing the test programme at the same high pace as up to now.” says test pilot Mikael Seidl, who together with his colleague Magnus Ljungdahl crewed the first flight.
In a press release, the Swedish Minister for Defence Sten Tolgfors commented on the flight “Saab implemented today a successful test flight with the Gripen Demo, and that is very joyful. Next Generation Gripen is a high-tech project in world-class with a very high international competitiveness. Last autumn the government decided - in cooperation with Norway – to support the financing of a demo program as a base for further development of the Gripen. Defence Minister Anne Grete Strøm-Erichsen and I were present when the fighter was rolled-out in Linköping, which shows the interest in the project in both our countries”.
The Gripen Demo aircraft is a flying test platform for the next generation of Gripen and for the further development of present versions. The aircraft will test and develop many of the essential systems and capabilities that will be applied to the Gripen NG (Next Generation) design, such as a more powerful engine, an active electronically scanned (AESA) radar, communication systems, electronic warfare and weapons development.
The Saab Gripen Demonstrator aircraft was powered by a GE F414G engine. The flight lasted 30 minutes and completed all planned goals. This is the first adaptation of an F414 for a single-engine application. The 22,000-pound-thrust-class F414G turbofan engine provides the Gripen with more than 20 percent additional thrust.