JonathanRL

Well, we can´t let Volker have all the fun - deserved as it may be Finished up the first skin for the bird. Enjoy!

The Radar Arrays on the Embraer (The Erieye) is also designed by Saab and is the same link used today between Saab S-100 Argus and the Gripen C.

That looks pretty damn good. Always had a soft spot for that bird.

Subject to a referendum on the Subject, I might add. But I suspect that one would be held regardless of what choice was made.

Does anybody have more updated templates then these? I have reason to suspect there are and they could be useful for a project. http://combatace.com/topic/53092-saab-gripen-template/

You do know this could be applied to pretty much anything developed for own needs and decided to sell? We could make a very long list. And no, not necessarily. The scenario most feared by Swedish military planners in the 1980s was the scenario where Finland and Sweden would be attacked to expand the Soviet sphere of influence and to prevent refugees escaping from the Baltic Countries. It was expected that the treat of Soviet nukes would keep NATO from interfering (settling to shore up Norway and Denmark). A scenario with world war three in Europe would - as you say - see most of the more advanced stuff used there but by no means is this a certainty as both sides expected nukes to be deployed almost instantaneously. Now, I have no desire to keep this debate up forever, so you will get the last word.

The Gripen was designed to be easy to maintain and efficient at the same time. The reason is because the Soviet Union was barely an hours flight time from most of our major bases. This is the core of Swedish Air Defence strategy - we are going to lose our airfields at once. As such, we got hundreds of "war bases", some nothing more then a pre-planned stretch of road. It was meant to be able to operate under Guerilla conditions if need be and is part of the reason the maintenance takes short time and is easy to do. You have to remember that the Gripen was designed to fight in a war where it would be outnumbered by the best the Soviets had to offer. This is the design philosophy behind it. It was not "meant for people who cannot afford the F-16", unlike the F-20 who you keep erroneously comparing it to - and none of those arguments fly, so would you please stop doing that? - , it was never designed for export. It was meant for our purposes. It was meant to design our freedom and in all probability NATOs Scandinavian Front.

There is only one way to settle this!

Sorry, CrazyHorse but for that argument to be close to valid, I will need a little more then just a passing resemblance. If that is what we use to call things "second rate" we have an epic duel about who is the second rate between Rafael and Eurofighter who are rather similar designs.

Looks a bit like a Western Backfire :)

I also have the source files now, in case somebody feel called to make us a proper Gripen E / NG.

All the countries? That is strange choice of words, considering Thailand want to order more of them. As regards to the South Africans, the contracts expired due to the South African budget not being large enough to keep them flying, something that would be an even more danger with the Rafaele. While I do not deny that the Rafaele may be a better aircraft, it is significantly more expensive to maintain and fly and thus is not really an option for most countries that has to think long and hard what to spend their money on. It seems the South African Government has chosen to rectify this however as they have signed a new contract for maintenance. The Czech Republic choose the Gripen over the F-16 who they had decided to procure. Hungary are pleased with theirs, Slovakia and Croatia are interested as well. As to regards to version, there are currently four versions that has seen service, one in prototype stage and one on the drawing board. The A and B was for the Swedish Air Force only, the C and D was improved versions for export with NATO and Air Refuelling capacity. B and D are for training and are dual seaters. Then we have the NG Model that will become the E and F versions. This airframe features larger body, two more pylons and a different tail. On the drawing Board is the Sea Gripen for Carrier Operations. India has maintained interest for this model - but will in all likelihood get Russian aircraft depending on how their deal with the Carrier goes forward. Brazil is another interested party, but their Carrier is barely floating. As regards to the entire Snowden thing, I am glad the Brazilians never read the Swedish newspapers where it clearly states we where one of NSAs primary partners in the spying.

Please confirm that the sound folder was installed properly. It contain the Engine sounds.

In 1995, a decision was proposed by the Security Council that the United Nations should raise their own standing forces. The proposal was backed fully by the Russian Government who saw it as a good way to keep standing forces in training with somebody else paying, but was ultimately a plot hatched by the United States to sell their new warships and warplanes, confident that the organisation would follow where the United Nations led. However, this did not turn out to be the case. While Russias offer to provide most of the ground forces was accepted, the treaties regarding warships and fighters was heavily disputed in the security council who each had their own airplane industry to think about. Negotiations was more intense then most dogfights as the diplomats argued for the Rafaele, for the Hornet, for the Flankers and Eurofighters and J-10s. A similar argument was forestalled in the Navy department where the United States as a gesture of good will decided to donate most of their aging Cruiser and Destroyer fleet to the cause, giving the United Nations a fair number of vessels to command. After eight months of negotiations, a choice still had not been made and the time was running out fast - a decision had to be made in less then two months. In order to buy more time, it was decided that none of the Security Council Permanent Members was allowed to sell the Jets and the United Nations would look for another fighter that fit the specifications; expecting the question to be returned to them once it was obvious that no other could produce a Jet that was good enough. It was at this moment that the Swedish delegation managed the impossible feat of simultaneously shutting up the Delegations of five major nations by declaring that by this decision, the Saab 39 Gripen was the only candidate left. Stunned, the diplomats turned on their advisor's, most who had simply fled in order not to be needlessly blamed. Two weeks later, a Ceremony announced the purchase of a special version of the Gripen, simply named the Saab 39 for United Nations service. Two-Seaters, with capacity for advanced weapons and electronic warfare, they saw service in the International Interventions against Lybia in 2011 and against North Korea in 2015. The sale of over 150 Jets to the United Nations also provided a boon for Saab to lease and sell their Gripen-A and Gripen-C to various smaller countries.

That is quite a package! Nicely done!

Sweden celebrates Christmas on the 24th, making a very boring 25th. So here is another one. S 29D - Swedish Coast Guard (1966)

Tunnan Mk IV - Israeli Defence Force (1956)

Got to admit it is very annoying to have it on a Sale and spent all my money on gifts for others. I really can´t fly with a towel, regardless what Douglas Adams say. Oh well. There is always more chances.

Tunnan Mk I - Israeli Defence Force (1954)

You may want to have a look at SF2: NA too :)

The US pulled that one on the Viggen once. Saab has learned since then.

They will purchase the Gripen-E/F (Also known as Gripen NG). However, they have said they may want to lease or rent Gripen-C as a gap-filler.

A mix.

No worries. I have done a similar Campaign myself. A big challenge, since you need to evade Phantoms and Tomcats and hit Ground Targets. You are able to win it tough, since the wing load makes you a lot more manoeuvrable.