Article

2019-02-10 Science & Technology

Sweden says it built Russian fighter jet killer

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Posted by Besoeker 2019-02-10 01:53|| || Front Page|| [11128 views ] Top

#1 Been corresponding with AOC, Mats?

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2019-02-10 04:19|| 2019-02-10 04:19|| Front Page Top

#2 ...(Considers this for a moment)...

I think it's possible that some of the more...awkward phrasing...in that article is the result of a poor translation. The Gripen is very, very, very good - in terms of electronics it's comparable with anything we've got, and in a dogfight (and remember nobody WANTS a dogfight; you want to whack them with missiles at medium to long range) it's every bit as good as the -35.

On top of that, it carries the Meteor missile - not quite the range of our AIM-120, but there are indications that it's faster and more accurate. If these things are data-linked like the 120s on our aircraft (that is; they can get targeting data from ground stations or AWACS and the launching birds never even have to turn on their radars) then the Russians are likely to get a lot worse than just a bloody nose from the Swedes.

In the past, the Swedes have built some very good and capable aircraft - they just haven't talked too much about it. They have a world-class fighter in service, they have quietly done a lot of...'discussing'...with NATO and the US about defending their country with it, and Mats wasn't just making a sales pitch.

That was also a warning.

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2019-02-10 08:06|| 2019-02-10 08:06|| Front Page Top

#3 The question you've to ask yourself Mike is how many of these superior aircraft they have compared to the many inferior aircraft Russians have.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2019-02-10 10:58|| 2019-02-10 10:58|| Front Page Top

#4 g(r)omgoru,
What percentage of the Russian AF would Sweden have to face? Sweden wouldn't be in it alone.

Posted by Thumper Cromosing4009 2019-02-10 11:13|| 2019-02-10 11:13|| Front Page Top

#5 What percentage of the Russian AF would Sweden have to face? Sweden wouldn't be in it alone.

Ah?

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2019-02-10 11:20|| 2019-02-10 11:20|| Front Page Top

#6 Sure, the rest of Europe would roll over and show Putin their belly, but the US still exists.

Posted by Rob Crawford 2019-02-10 12:30|| 2019-02-10 12:30|| Front Page Top

#7 "Quantity has a kind of quality of own."

(Or something like that.)

Posted by gorb 2019-02-10 14:16|| 2019-02-10 14:16|| Front Page Top

#8 On top of that, it carries the Meteor missile - not quite the range of our AIM-120, but there are indications that it's faster and more accurate.

It vastly outranges the AIM-120. That the whole point of using air as the oxidizer. It also has lower peak velocity and I'd bet my left arm the seeker (derived from French MICA missile) is not as good as the AIM-120 C-7 or D.

FYI: MBDA is partnering with Japan to incorporate their AAM-4B missile seeker into Meteor.

That said, the Gripen-E w/ Meteor is expected to outperform the Su-27-35 series in BVR, primarily due to Meteor and Sukhoi's honking big radar cross section. Still the Gripen-E could use a better radar.

In WVR, I would bet on the Sukhois beat up on Gripen due to limitations in angle of attack inherent in delta-canard aircraft. I.e. It can't point it's nose like a Sukhoi or Hornet.

The Gripen can't carry the most weapons, has no real stealth, isn't the longest-range, fastest, or even cheapest jet

Sums it up nicely, General.

Posted by Glusotle Sninetle1364 2019-02-10 15:28|| 2019-02-10 15:28|| Front Page Top

#9 Rantburg U - still in session

Posted by Frank G 2019-02-10 16:37|| 2019-02-10 16:37|| Front Page Top

#10 This is a silly story. Sweden is not in NATO by their own choice. If the Russians come, no other country is going do much to help them.

Further, if the Russians are going in, they aren't just going to fly a few squadrons of fighters over to Sweden to clear out their air force. Their planes would be accompanied by land and sea based air defenses, and peremptory missile fires on the Swedish bases, radars, and infrastructure. Marines would be landing in Gotland and the Archipelago. Protected by submarines and air once in forward positions, they would set up additional logistics and support. It would be an absolute wipeout of the Swedish forces that have been allowed to waste away for decades. The Swedish government would be displaced in a week or two. The surviving ten million Swedes would be deported to Siberia and replaced with ethnic Russians. The nation would cease to exist.

Yes, a few Russian aircraft would be lost to your overpriced under-performing airplane. Big deal.

Posted by rammer 2019-02-10 18:14|| 2019-02-10 18:14|| Front Page Top

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