Gripen's demonstrator was premiered today in a spectacular roll out for 700 special invited guests and international media. An historic event and an important day for Sweden and for Saab.

"This is a landmark event for Saab and its international industrial partners and a significant moment in the future of fighter aircraft technology and performance. I am very proud of what we have achieved and am confident that this next generation of Gripen will be blazing trails in the skies for years to come", said Ake Svensson, CEO of Saab, who hosted the event.

This aircraft has, among other things, been equipped with:

- a new, more powerful engine
- a completely new modular avionics system
- a greater payload and longer range
- a completely new type of radar that Saab will develop, together with Thales

The flying test platform, Gripen Demo, will be used to introduce new technology and functions to Gripen. The new capabilities could be the basis for a totally new version and/or will be completely or partially integrated into current versions of Gripen.

A great interest for Gripen Demo

During the ceremony the Gripen Demo was unveiled and the major new features picked out with powerful spotlights. The guests included Norway's Defence Minister Anne-Grete Strom-Erichsen, Sweden's Defence Minister Sten Tolgfors, The Czech Deputy Minister of Defence FrantiSek Pad lek and the Secretary of State in Hungary's Ministry of Defence, Joszef Bali. Representatives from Gripen's customer countries as well as campaign countries India, Greece, Denmark and Norway were present.

The event was also attended by representatives of the some of the world's leading companies within the aircraft industry that are involved in the development of Gripen: General Electric, Volvo Aero, Rockwell Collins, Honeywell, APPH, Terma, Martin-Baker and Meggitt. The latest in the line is Thales, which means that two of the world's leading radar developers are now collaborating to equip Gripen with the most advanced AESA radar technology (Active Electronically Scanned Array).

The future has arrived

During the seminar, Bill Sweetman, one of the best known flight journalists in the world, explained why he believed that every country needs a fighter aircraft. Air Vice-Marshall Tony Mason stated further that defence will always be required and that "air power" will continue to mean an advantage over the enemy.

Magnus Lewis Olsson, a test pilot at Saab, pointed out in his speech that Sweden is one of only six countries that manufactures fighter aircraft at present. Saab's CEO Ake Svensson stated that Gripen Demo is an important step for Gripen to retain its position at the cutting edge of technology for another 30-40 years and concluded by saying: "With Gripen Demo the future is already here."

The ceremony was concluded by a greatly appreciated flying display.

Source : Saab

With acknowledgement to Saab and ASD.