+dtmdragon 2,608 Posted February 2, 2016 (edited) JAS-39G Gripen / F-39G Gripen Edited February 2, 2016 by dtmdragon 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+daddyairplanes 8,971 Posted February 2, 2016 Always felt this would be a good QUICK replacement for the AF F-35s. The engines are essentially F414s, radar and wespons could integrate quickly. Partner with Lockheed Martin to offset loss of JSF business and I always envisioned the Air National Guard getting the first ones to take over the air soveriegnty mission while the rest of the mission/weapon sets were tested. Thats given the AAMs are already integrated with the airframe and a off the shelf radar would likely be fitted from the Vipers or Hornets (cant have the whoke thing license built!) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+CrazyhorseB34 937 Posted February 2, 2016 Never gonna happen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+daddyairplanes 8,971 Posted February 2, 2016 True. Thats why its in the what if section.... nice thought though and beats F-35 in one major factor: cost 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+CrazyhorseB34 937 Posted February 2, 2016 Oops didn't see what if! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+dtmdragon 2,608 Posted February 2, 2016 Changed the camo a bit, it is a bit more F-16 style now 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dsawan 613 Posted February 2, 2016 Cool, cant wait for a release. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+dtmdragon 2,608 Posted February 2, 2016 Cool, cant wait for a release. I want to do a few more squadrons first Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+daddyairplanes 8,971 Posted February 2, 2016 Suggest Viper Squadrons mainly, as that was the bulk to be replace by F-35 and that program being scrapped HAS to be the start basis of any back story to make this happen. No A-10 squadrons as they are off the chopping block til the next decade Also again suggest some ANG units for the Air Soveriegnty mission, mainly the Viper or Eagle units holding down the fort today Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+dtmdragon 2,608 Posted February 4, 2016 (edited) USAF skins for the following squadrons: 4th FS, 388th FW, 34th FS, 388th FW 421st FS, 388th FW 35th FS, 8th FW 55th FS, 20th FW 522nd FS, 27th FW 555th FS, 31st FW 188FS, 150th FW Decals are from the Viper Team F-16C modified to fit the Gripen and with serials changed to the fiscal year 2018. Edited February 4, 2016 by dtmdragon 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+dtmdragon 2,608 Posted February 4, 2016 (edited) A few slight changes to the squadron flagship decals and all the skins now have flying boom air-to-air refueling markings on the spine. Edited February 4, 2016 by dtmdragon 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dsawan 613 Posted February 4, 2016 great work on these. Will youeventually do Argentine skins? I think Argentina had considered this plane before going to China for their plane purchase of the future. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+daddyairplanes 8,971 Posted February 5, 2016 Might want to leave refuel decal off. They have had refueling probe Navy style since Batch 3 iRL and would come online about the time the KC-46 would start being operational. That tanker has a boom centerline, but two pods on the wings for refueling probe planes as well. Do you have a back story on this yet? You've got decal work well in hand (good move with the serials!) And I keep thinking of how this woukd work in a real world scenario. Lockheed Martin F-39A Gryphen and the Saab F-39B Gripen! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+dtmdragon 2,608 Posted February 5, 2016 (edited) I'm just doing a USAF what if at this stage. I am calling it the F-39G/H Griffin in USAF service. JAS-39G/H Gripen is the Saab company designation. Back story wise I am thinking somthing along the lines of due to a change in US government policy driven by cost overruns, project delays and negative public (aka voter) opinion the USAF F-35A order is halved. To make up the shortfall a cheaper 4.5 generation aircraft is sought to replace the rest of the F-16 fleet. New built F-16s are considered but ultimately a license built US specific version of the Gripen NG is chosen. To help offset the loss of the cancelled F-35 order Lockheed Martin is awarded the contract to build the F-39 along with the US specific modifications. The most important of which is full data/ sensor integration and cooperative war fighting with the F-35A fleet. I'm not sure about removing the boom refueling decal as if given the choice wouldn't the USAF opt for boom refueling like the rest of its aircraft fleet if it had the option? Edited February 5, 2016 by dtmdragon Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+daddyairplanes 8,971 Posted February 5, 2016 One thing the service chiefs are griping bout is needing new assets NOW. The less changed the faster into service. As said the new tanker will have not one but two drogues, and that would get things moving faster. Plus the spine looks rather narrow to have a door and plumbing for the usual method. Overall very similar to what I ws thinking. I figured LM to make the single seaters but Saab making the two seaters so conversion training coukd get underway. And while its old hat to Saab and Sweden, it would be new to the USAF hence the A/B designators. Finally, due to range and weapons trials, thats why I figured air sovereignty ANG units first. Less need to tank, AAM would be certified fast due to already in use on that air frame. As part of the Total Force (integration of Active, Reserve, and ANG) could even make the 114th FS Oregon ANG the RTU as they current hold a interceptor training slot for the whole ANG. But thsts just my two crnts Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+dtmdragon 2,608 Posted February 5, 2016 (edited) One thing the service chiefs are griping bout is needing new assets NOW. The less changed the faster into service. As said the new tanker will have not one but two drogues, and that would get things moving faster. Plus the spine looks rather narrow to have a door and plumbing for the usual method. I take on board what you say about it fitting in the spine but I am still not sure about the USAF going to the drogue refueling system if it had the option. However I have moved the refueling receptacle and markings to the same place the refueling probe extends from in the current Gripen NG since that's where the plumbing would already be etc. Maybe the early built aircraft that go straight to the ANG for the air sovereignty mission could stick with the refueling probe but later built air frames after the full weapons integration phase would have had enough time to have a new boom refueling receptacle developed. Edited February 5, 2016 by dtmdragon 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+daddyairplanes 8,971 Posted February 5, 2016 Sounds good. Block 20 USAF standard :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+dtmdragon 2,608 Posted February 6, 2016 Latest (and possibly last) lot of skins: 152nd FS, 162 FW AZANG 179th FS, 148th FW MNANG 389th FS, 366th FW 56FW - 61st FS - 63rd FS - 310th FS - 308th FS - 21st FS 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+dtmdragon 2,608 Posted February 6, 2016 Full credit goes to team viper for the decals, I just re-jiged them to fit the gripin. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+dtmdragon 2,608 Posted February 9, 2016 Latest (and possibly last) lot of skins: Well, maybe not! lol - Aggressors! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+dtmdragon 2,608 Posted February 11, 2016 Download is up http://combatace.com/files/file/16048-f-39ab-griffin-blk-15-gripen-ng-for-the-us/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
