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Saab conducted the maiden flight (27 May) with the
Gripen Demo, the test platform for the further development
of Gripen. The flight lasted for 30 minutes and
went totally according to plan.
"We´re flying what in many aspects is
a completely new aircraft a month after Roll-Out.
This is quite unique and it shows Gripen´s
opportunities for further development. It also shows
our own ability to develop new, more efficient working
methods." says Lars-Erik Svedlund, Saab´s
project manager for the Gripen demonstrator programme.
Since the Gripen Demo was presented,
the programme has proceeded with ground trials and
continual evaluations in order to guarantee flight
safety. Tuesday´s flight took place in good
weather from Saab´s airfield in Linköping.
Maximum altitude for the first flight was 6,400
meters and maximum speed was 320 knots.
"Everything went according
to plan. The Gripen Demo is more powerful compared
to earlier versions of Gripen but is just as easily
flown. We look forward to continuing the test programme
at the same high pace as up to now." says test
pilot Mikael Seidl, who together with his colleague
Magnus Ljungdahl crewed the first flight.
The Gripen Demo aircraft is a flying
test platform for the next generation of Gripen
and for the further development of present versions.
The aircraft will test and develop many of the essential
systems and capabilities that will be applied to
the Gripen NG (Next Generation) design, such as:
- a more powerful engine
- an active electronically scanned (AESA) radar
- communication systems
- electronic warfare and
- weapons development
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Com
seu primeiro vôo o Gripen DEMO dá
um passo decisivo no Programa NG |
Driving the development
of new technology
The Gripen Demo is not just the
first step towards a new Gripen – it is driving
the development of new technology for existing Gripen
customers and for other applications. The Demo aircraft
is a platform for technology insertion for the whole
Gripen family. It reassures any customer buying
Gripen today that they will be able to upgrade and
enhance their aircraft when needed.
Partnership with world leading
companies
The Gripen test platform has been achieved in partnership
with several of the world’s leading companies
within the aviation industry: General Electric,
Thales, Rockwell Collins, Honeywell, APPH, Terma,
Martin-Baker and Meggitt.
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