Two Gripen D aircraft participated in the SA Air Force's recent Airpower
Demonstration in Limpopo Province, South Africa.
The dual-seat state-of-the-art fighters were
deployed in a typical peace enforcement scenario *1 to provide a Combat
Air Patrol over a ground-to-air reconnaissance mission and over a subsequent
strike against insurgent forces.
In a real mission, they would also provide a vital communications and mission
control link to the reconnaissance aircraft and ground attack fighters.
According to Lt-Gen Carlo Gagiano, Chief of the SAAF, significant progress had
been made with the integration of Gripen alongside other new aircraft including
the Hawk lead-in fighter trainer, Agusta A109 and Agusta-Westland SuperLynx
helicopters.
"We hope to have air to ground weapons *2
integrated on Gripen in time to demonstrate them at our next Airpower
demonstration later this year," Lt-Gen Gagiano told observers.
Gripen pilot instructor and technical training on-going
The SAAF's 2 Squadron at AFB Makhado in Limpopo, received its first five Gripens
in 2008, while two more aircraft joined the unit at the beginning of April 2009.
Gripen Pilot Instructor and Technical training began on the type during the
second half of 2008 with support from Saab.
Every year the SAAF stages two Airpower demonstrations at its Roodewal bombing
range which is located just north of Polokwane, the country's northern-most city
and capital of Limpopo.
With acknowledgements to
ASD Network.
*1 Dual seat fighter bombers
(or ground attack fighters) are more typically used for the precision
emplacement of ordnance where the bombing planners dare not allow the slightest
risk of error, nor risk the aircraft being shot down.
Therefore the pilot flies the aeroplane in a very precise approach and attack
profile while the navigator determines the parameters therefore as well as the
precise moment and position for release of said mission.
Only twice in the history of human unkind has such ordnance been used against
humans.
A couple of times it was used against the innocent critters of the New Mexico
desert and the innocent coral organisms of the Pacific Islands.
But no these days dual seat Gripens are used for three-tier jet fighter training
and not the delivery of ordnance.
*2 These cannot be used for protection during Soccer World
Cup 2010, unless the Mancunians and Berliners get completely out of control
after the beer tent runs out of lager.
But it is probably safe to say that the Gripens will not have air to air
weapons.
The only plausible scenario where I can envisage the useful deployment of Gripen
fighters in Soccer World Cup 2010 is shooting down a suicide aircraft intent on
attacking a stadium.
Of course one doesn't need a Gripen to shoot down a civilian aircraft, a Cheetah
C will do, so will a Hawk 120, so will a Pilatus fitted with appropraite hard
points and the missile, and so will a whole variety of ground-to-air missiles
*3.
Anybody got any more?
*3 I shouldn't have said this because now the SA Army will
be able to justify GBADS for protecting Soccer World Cup 2010 using the Thales
Air Defence Starstreak very short range air defence missile.
Maybe Denel Air Motive can motivate the acceleration of the Umkhonto short range
ground to air missile development programme by also motivating its deployment
for use at Soccer World Cup 2010, especially for those pesky virgin seekers who
just refuse to come into range.
Soccer World Cup 2010 has just taken on a completely new meaning for me.