Hello, Warriors. Boosting the ‘Make in India’ programme, Swedish defence major Saab AB has offered to collaborate with India to develop a naval version of its fighter aircraft Gripen with transfer of technology, in a renewed bid for a pie in the multi-billion dollar worth IAF modernisation plan.
Saab is not only offering to set up a base here but also help in the development of aerospace capability for the next 100 years and partner in developing the next version of indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), being developed and designed by Aeronautical Development Agency.
Here are the few things to know about Gripen Fighter Jets:
- Gripen is a new generation of multi-role fighter aircraft featuring state-of-art technology.
- It is capable of performing an extensive range of air-to-air, air-to-surface and reconnaissance missions employing the most modern range of weapons.
- It is currently being used by several air forces, including Sweden and Britain.
- Described by Saab as a ‘swing-role’ aircraft which is capable of switching roles at the “press of a button”.
- It comes as a good offer as Indian Air Force needs 42 squadrons to face the threat from nuclear rivals Pakistan and China which is currently down to 34 squadrons due to delays and budget constraints.
- It has abilities to include radar jamming, packs air-to-air missiles such as AIM-9 sidewinder and anti-ship missiles.
- The offer of technology transfer would be real as they are offering India ‘full system control’ and ‘full software control’.
- But the biggest drawback for Saab is that Sweden does not have an aircraft carrier, and hence development of even a prototype for its naval version of the jet is a problem.
