World class fighters for the second decade; to keep this survey within reasonable limits, it has been decided to restrict its scope to fighters that are already flying in developmental or series form, and that are considered by the editors as likely to provide significant international sales (in financial terms, if not in aircraft numbers) during the 2010s.

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Fighter Aircraft Special

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World class fighters for the second decade; to keep this survey within reasonable limits, it has been decided to restrict its scope to fighters that are already flying in developmental or series form, and that are considered by the editors as likely to provide significant international sales (in financial terms, if not in aircraft numbers) during the 2010s.

It thus excludes aircraft such as India's HAL LCA, which is not predicted to have a substantial effect on the global market, and others such as the Lockheed Martin F-16, Boeing F-15 and F/A-18, Dassault Mirage 2000 and RSK MiG-29, which in the period specified are more likely to appear as small attrition buys.

It must further be noted that, should the Lockheed Martin F-35 be abandoned in its present form, a new version of the same company's F-16 (probably using the larger wing of the Mitsubishi F-2) could sell in serious numbers. A new generation Russian fighter (yet to fly) could also be exported before 2020, and a combat version of the Eads Mako might damage Gripen sales, as might the KAI A-50. The real wild card is China's Chengdu J-10, a disinterred IAI Lavi, which is being developed in secrecy. China has so far demonstrated no great talent in the design and development of combat aircraft, but that could change.

Gripen

The Gripen International Gripen (so good they named it twice) is the title given to the export derivative of the Saab JAS39 built for the Swedish Air Force (SAF). It has the distinction of being the world's only in-service, fourth-generation, lightweight fighter of modern design, and the leader of the new generation of European canard-delta configuration combat aircraft. The innovative complexity/simplicity of design allows the Gripen to enjoy a very short turn around time. Within less than ten minutes, a ground crew can refuel and re-arm the aircraft for a new mission. The pilot, at the push of a button, can switch the Gripen's mission in mid-flight (a true swing-role aircraft). JAS, incidentally, stands for Jakt (fighter), Attack and Spaning (recce)--in Swedish, of course.

The Gripen is believed to have a basic mass empty (BME) of approximately 7400 kg in typical single-seat form, compared to around 7100 kg for the JAS39. Internal fuel is reportedly 2280 kg. Maximum take-off weight is 14,000 kg, compared to 12,500 kg for the JAS39. The JAS39 and Gripen are both equipped with a single Volvo-built RM12 low-bypass turbofan derived from the General Electric F404, producing approximately 8200 kg static afterburning thrust, and an Ericsson PS-05/A multi-mode pulse-Doppler radar.

The aircraft is built by Saab-BAE Systems Gripen. Gri...

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