Airforces - Typhoon school

(Jacob Rumans) #1

Meanwhile various Mission Software (MS)
upgrades have been developed to expand the
jet’s capabilities, including Link 16 (backed up
by Sweden’s own data link system and Have
Quick II radios) for voice-secure encrypted
communications – facilitating Flygvapnet
Gripens’ participation in Unified Protector.
The jets became an important near-
real-time reconnaissance platform in that
campaign, using the SPK 39 electro-
optical pod with great success.
In 2009, the MS19 update introduced the
IRIS-T air-to-air missile (local designation Rb
98) – cued by the Cobra helmet-mounted
system – which complemented and ultimately
replaced the AIM-9L Sidewinder (Rb 74).
An updated PS-05/A multi-mode radar was
also installed and the Gripen was finally able
to drop GBU-12/GBU-49 guided munitions.
The ‘air-to-air’ orientated MS20 upgrade



  • developed in the wake of the notorious
    simulated attack on Stockholm by Russian
    Tu-22M3 bombers on the night of March
    29, 2013 – means Gripens are able to use
    the Meteor (Rb 101) missile, which now
    complements the AIM-120B AMRAAM (Rb 99).
    Operational integration of the Meteor BVRAAM
    was a world-first and completed an intense period
    of tactical brainstorming by the TU JAS. During
    test and evaluation flights the unit made frequent
    used of co-located Flygskolan (Flight School)
    Saab 105 trainers as adversary aircraft, exploiting
    their low radar cross-section and manoeuvrability.
    For use in urban conflict scenarios, the
    GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB), guided
    by GPS data gained by the Litening III
    targeting pod, will enable the MS20-equipped
    Gripen to reduce collateral damage.
    The MS20 upgrade also includes a ground-
    collision avoidance system (GCAS) that,


using an on-board terrain database and
radar altimeter, automatically overrides the
pilot’s flight control inputs if required.
March 2013’s simulated bombing raid
precipitated a profound rethinking of Sweden’s
defence doctrine and, with most of its Cold
War organisation and reserve-base structure
mothballed, the TU JAS has been involved
in redesigning and testing the country’s new
‘Gripen-styled’ reserve road-base structure.
A first successful road-base landing was
made by a TU JAS pilot in Gotland last
September. Although the aircraft only
performed one full landing and take-off, the
‘out-of-area’ deployment of a fully armed
Gripen to a road strip had proved successful.
For the TU JAS, this concept validation was the
climax of years of hard work and logistical and
tactical challenges. Within two weeks of the trial,
frontline JAS 39C/Ds from F 7 operated from a

Joint operating and servicing
of a mixed Flygvapnet Gripen
C/D/E fl eet at different software
standards may well impact the
future workload of the TU JAS.


Right: Traditionally some TU JAS pilots have an engineering degree as a secondary qualifi cation, while
new pilots are occasionally drafted in from the Flygskolan instructor force to use their training skills and
previous Gripen experience to assist their frontline peers. Below: JAS 39C serial 39251 ‘251’ taxies at its
Malmen base. The TU JAS is also on hand to assist foreign Gripen operators: from this year, the Czech
Air Force will update its leased jets to MS20 standard, supervised by the TU JAS and/or FMV pilots.


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


Flight test focus

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