South African company Saab Grintek Defence (SGD), part of Sweden’s Saab Group, has indicated what parts it will develop and manufacture for the latest generation of the Saab Gripen fighter for the Swedish Air Force, the Gripen E. These will be parts of the aircraft’s electronic warfare (EW) system.

In June, Engineering News revealed that some parts for the Gripen E would be manufactured in South Africa. Now, SGD says that these will be antennas and microwave modules for the EW system. The assembly of the prototypes of these parts is now under way at the company’s facility in Centurion, just south of Pretoria.

“These are important assignments for Saab Grintek Defence and a testimony to the local capabilities and exceptional local knowledge within electronic warfare in South Africa,” highlighted company CEO Magnus Lewis-Olsson. “The work will further strengthen our capabilities, and secure and protect jobs at SGD for a long time, and we hope for further orders for the Gripen E going forward.”

The Gripen E is currently under development. The programme involves significant redevelopment of the airframe and systems of the current Gripen C and D (single- and two-seat versions, respectively) fighters. Gripen C/Ds are operated by the air forces of Sweden, South Africa, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Thailand.

Currently, Sweden’s official requirement is for 60 Gripen Es. However, the changed strategic situation resulting from the Ukraine crisis could lead to the order being increased to 70 or even 80 aircraft.

Although the Gripen E will use some of the same components and systems (such as part of the fuel and air supply systems, the ejection seat, outer wing elevons, windshield and canopy) of the Gripen C/D, in many ways it is a totally new aircraft. It will be slightly larger than the previous versions, with a different airframe structure and a redesigned tail section. It will have more weapons stations, new radar, improved communications systems, a new avionics architecture, new EW systems, new external sensors and a more powerful engine. It will also have a greater fuel capacity and a longer range.

Brazil has also selected the Gripen E as its new generation fighter and a definitive contract is expected to be signed before the end of this year. It is currently impossible to say if any South African-made parts could be used in the manufacture of the Brazilian aircraft.