Airforces - Typhoon school

(Jacob Rumans) #1
during their transition to the fighter or
integration of a new weapons system.
The IOC initial test report is also
sent to the FMV and Flygvapnet for a
programme debrief and assessment.
While the new weapons system is put to
use by the frontline Gripen wings (F 7 at
Såtenäs, F 17 at Ronneby and F 21 at Luleå),
these units will be continuously assisted by
TU JAS pilots and personnel. During this
collaboration, first-hand experience and
feedback is obtained by the TU JAS, eventually
leading to an FOC plan and test report.

From Gripen A to C
Since the introduction of the first of a planned
204 JAS 39A/Bs in 1997, the TU JAS has seen
continuous upheaval in the political and security
landscape: changing military doctrines and
threat scenarios, ‘a new Cold War’ in the Baltic
and – most importantly – financial limitations.
The dissolution of the Warsaw Pact hugely

impacted Sweden’s military doctrine, leading
to a large-scale downsizing of its fighting force
and the loss of many of its remote wartime
bases – a reduction in the total number
of Gripens and the number of operational
fighter wings forcing the Flygvapnet and
the FMV to upgrade the tactical capabilities
of a reduced fleet of 100 JAS 39s.
Additional workload was created by
Sweden’s political commitment to international
peacekeeping – in a strictly supporting role.
This quest for interoperability with friendly
air forces saw the Flygvapnet purchase new
weapons and communications systems.
The shift from indigenously designed to
foreign hardware and software triggered
vast development cost savings and meant
programmes could be executed more rapidly.
With considerable input from the TU JAS,
Saab and the FMV developed an updated
JAS 39C/D which was introduced with the
three remaining operational fighter wings.

Right: Two-seat JAS 39D serial 39840 ‘840’ is part
of the TU JAS test fl eet at Malmen. The jet is seen
fl ying over F 7’s standard operating area out of
Såtenäs. Below: A TU JAS test pilot runs through
the mission data card prior to a fl ight in one of the
Saab 105 trainers ‘borrowed’ from the co-located
Flygskolan. These versatile jets are also used as
adversary aircraft.


http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #361 APRIL 2018 // 51

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