Swedish aerospace firm Saab has been awarded a contract for 3.5 billion Swedish krona ($338 million) to perform major upgrades on the Gripen multi-role fighter aircraft.
According to the company, the plane will be equipped with a new engine to improve its flight performance.
A more effective electronic warfare system will also be integrated to deny adversaries the ability to jam or disrupt the Gripen.
Additionally, the multimillion-dollar agreement covers a capability upgrade on the aircraft’s radar system for an extended detection and tracking range.
It would also require Saab to future-proof the Gripen’s avionic system to enable fast software updates for sensors.
“The enhancements will provide Sweden with a more effective and powerful fighter capability,” the company stated in a press release.
It will “enable better interoperability between Gripen C/D and Gripen E, for example by the upgrade of support systems and data links.”
Gripen Fighter Aircraft
Saab’s Gripen is equipped with the Ericsson PS-05 long-range multi-purpose pulse Doppler radar, covering long-range search, multiple priority target tracking, and air combat quick search modes.
The aircraft flies at up to 2,470 kilometers (1,534 miles) per hour.
The fighter can carry MBDA MICA missiles, Lockheed Martin Sidewinder AIM-9L air-to-air missiles, and Raytheon AIM-120B Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles.
“The contract is a big leap ahead in terms of radar performance and functionality, both for the hardware and software, and will future-proof the operational capability of Gripen,” Saab official Jonas Hjelm said.