RSA Gripen Advanced Light Fighter Aircraft (ALFA)
The Gripen fighter aircraft is designed and built by Saab of Sweden and marketed by Gripen International, a joint venture by Saab and BAE Systems. The first Gripen prototype flew in December 1988. This was the original A and B version, which was designed as an air defence fighter. The development of the C and D version, now also known as the EBS or export baseline version, started in the late 1990s, and by 2003 was flying with most of the functionalities intact. This development was a major upgrade of the Gripen A and B to produce a 4th generation multi-role fighter aircraft. The SAAF version is based on the EBS version with a few unique requirements embedded. The first aircraft destined for the SAAF was unveiled at Saab on 28 October 2005 and first flew on 11 November 2005.
The SAAF strategy for the long-term replacement of its air combat capability was proposed in the early nineties. This strategy made provision for an advanced fighter trainer (AFT) and a medium fighter to be acquired in the future. The SAAF fighter program that was started included two programs, namely Project Ukhozi [the trainer] and Project Kambro [the fighter]. Project Kambro was established to satisfy the medium fighter requirement, and it focused on the replacement of the Mirage F 1 as well as the Cheetah C and D aircraft with a future multi-role supersonic fighter by the year 2012, which was described as a Future Medium Fighter (FMF).
During January 1997, the British Government tabled a package proposal for the supply of armaments to South Africa. This included, inter alia, the replacement of the Impala with the Hawk jet trainer or a combination of the Hawk and the Gripen fighter via British Aerospace (BAe). Neither the Hawk nor Gripen systems, as offered by BAe during its formal response to the Project Ukhozi acquisition, satisfied the full requirement specifications. In terms of quoted acquisition and life cycle support costs, both aircraft systems were by far the most expensive options in their respective classes. In order to satisfy the requirement for these two systems, the SAAF would have preferred not to participate in the stated fighter component of the Srategic Defense Procurement as there were aircraft systems that were operationally far more acceptable and available at substantially lower acquisition and operating costs. Such systems formed part of package proposals received from other countries.
| Country | Aircraft |
| Germany | AT 2000 |
| France | Mirage 2000 |
| Canada | CF 5 |
| UK | SAAB Gripen |
| Italy | Yak/AEM 130; MB339FD |
| Russia | MiG 29 |
| Czech Republic | L159 |
On 23 September 1997, a RFI for 48 aircraft were sent to eight Governments, i.e. the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Sweden, Canada and Spain. During a meeting of the SAAF Command Council on 17 November 1997, the ALFA project team presented the results of the RFI evaluation process. According to the minutes, it was decided to reduce the number of aircraft for the ALFA project from 48 to 38. The results were presented for the procurement of 38 aircraft (eight duel-seat and 30 single-seat aircraft) and three aircraft were shortlisted, namely the Gripen, AT2000 and Mirage 2000. On 24 and 28 November 1997, presentations were made by the UCC to the AAC and during these meetings the short list for Request For Offers (RFOs) was approved. All three the above aircraft were considered acceptable to satisfy the SAAF's requirement for an ALFA, subject to the risks being covered contractually and by government-to-government agreement. A RFO was issued on 14 February 1998, to BAe/SAAB, Dassault and Daimler- Benz Aerospace with 14 May 1998 as the final date for submission of offers. The issuing was authorised by the former Minister of Defence at the AAC on 28 February 1998. The total acquisition cost required for 38 ALFA aircraft was expected to be in the order of R11,0 billion (1998 rand value, i.e. US$1=R5.10), i.e. including initial logistic package for two years, taxes, mission equipment, mission simulator and program management cost.
| Aircraft type | Supplier | November 1997 - Normalised Military Value (RFI results) | Motivation |
| AT 2000 | DASA | 1,0 | Best cost-effectiveness. Also best operational capability. Development program with very high risk - unless DASA and German Government commit to program. Also option that can satisfy the SAAF requirement. Financial commitment during development (next three years) low. |
| Mirage 2000 | Dassault | 0,83 | Lowest technical and program risk with high operational capability. Cost provisional estimate that has to be verified. |
| Gripen | BAe/SAAB | 0,81 | Capable modern fighter with low development risk but high cost. |
Each proposal had to be measured against a set of mandatory requirements. These mandatory requirements were evaluated in the RFI phase. This was a measure to ensure that the proposals still comply with the minimum requirements. These proposals were measured against a set of discriminatory criteria, which formed part of the final value system. A score had to be determined for each proposal and this score was the military value. The lifecycle cost was calculated for each proposal and a life-cycle cost index determined. The military value then had to be divided by the life-cycle cost to provide the cost-effectiveness for each contender. The cost-effectiveness values were ranked from highest to lowest and the most cost-effective contender recommended.
It is alleged that BAE paid bribes of £115 million (R1.5 billion) to secure its warplane contracts. The bribes were paid by a BAE front company styled Red Diamond Trading Company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands to various individuals, including the late former Defense Minister Joe Modise’s assistant, Fana Hlongwane. It is also said that additional bribes of R30 million were laundered by BAE via two Swedish trade unions, ostensibly to fund an industrial training school, but actually to bribe South African parliamentarians to support the arms deal. Investigations into BAE bribes to secure its South African contracts have been squelched by both the British and South African governments.
The South African government announced in November 1998 that it intended to purchase 28 BAe/Saab JAS39 Gripen fighter aircraft from Sweden at a cost of R10.875 billion, ie R388 million (about US$65 million) per plane. BAe has a 35 percent in the Saab Gripen. The South African Airforce acquired 9 British Aerospace/Saab-supplied JAS 39 dual-seat Gripens, customised to meet specific South African requirements to fulfil the role of an Advanced Light Fighter Aircraft (ALFA).
In December 1999, South Africa placed orders for 28 Gripen aircraft (nine dual seat and 19 single-seat versions) incorporating several new features which are standard items for the Gripen Export baseline version. Among these are the in-flight refuelling system, On-board Oxygen Generator (OBOGS) - which enables the pilots to continue operating on extended missions - a new cockpit climate control system, NATO-interoperable stores pylons, colour cockpit displays a new communications suite and also instruments calibrated in Imperial units.
The Gripen is a highly integrated multi-role aircraft, capable of flying air-to-air, air-to-ground and reconnaissance missions. The aircraft is fitted with the Volvo RM12, a modern two-spool gas turbine engine, delivering 18 000 lbs of thrust in full afterburner. The aircraft's maximum speed is Mach 1.4.
The first South African Gripen undertook flight trials in Sweden in 2005, after which the aircraft underwent a further flight test program in South Africa during 2006 where the South African-specific equipment were be proven and certified.
The nine dual-seat Gripens were delivered between 2006 and 2008 and the next batch of 19 single-seat Gripens between 2009 and 2011, subject to Government exercising the option of the remaining aircraft. The 9 dual-seat plus 19 single-seat replaced the dual-seat Cheetah D and the single-seat Cheetah C fighters in inventory, and due to be phased out between January 2008 and December 2012.
Commissioning of the production line coincided with Saab's announcement that it had placed new orders on South Africa's aerospace and defence corporation, Denel, for the series production of Gripen sub-assemblies and components. These latest contracts cover the manufacture and supply of Gripen Rear Fuselage Sections, Main Landing Gear fuselage Units and NATO-interoperable stores pylons for the entire Gripen program. Also included are contracts for the supply of detailed tooling required for the fulfilment of the component orders.
These components were incorporated into aircraft being built for the Swedish Air Force and international export customers, including South Africa and Hungary. The contracts stemmed directly from Saab's Industrial Participation obligations linked to South Africa's purchase of Gripen aircraft under the Strategic Defence Procurement program. During the subsequent in-service period, that will last for several decades, the support and upgrading activities associated with modern fighter aircraft will ensure a steady flow of job-opportunities for industries in South Africa and Sweden.
The Gripen’s superior handling and manoeuvring qualities are obtained through a state of the art digital fly by wire flight control system. The aircraft is equipped with a very modern, ring laser gyro inertial navigation system, augmented by a satellite navigation system (GPS) as well as a radio navigation system.
The South African Air Force (SAAF) uses its Gripens in conjunction with 24 new Hawk Lead-In Fighter Trainers. Together they replaced the SAAF's ageing fleet of Impala (Aermacchi MB326) and Mirage/Cheetah fighters. This represented a significant technological transformation in the standard of aircraft system being operated by the SAAF. At the same time, the new technology embodied in Gripen and Hawk, enable the SAAF to reduce its existing jet trainer and fighter fleet by 75 percent.
This downsizing is in line with policy formulated after the first democratic election in 1994 which calls for a smaller, more affordable, but technologically sophisticated defence capability to protect the country's airspace and to ensure regional stability through South Africa?s participation in peace-support operations.
At the heart of South Africa’s acquisition of a 26-strong fleet of 4th-generation front-line Gripen fighter jets was the successful acquisition of the radar system, mounted in the nose of the aircraft. 2011 saw the culmination of the CSIR’s 16-years of radar acquisition support on this truly modern fighter, spearheaded by CSIR radar engineers.
Multifunction radar is integral to the Gripen’s ability to enhance the pilot’s situation awareness, in accurately launching and guiding air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons and undertaking all-weather, day and night aerial reconnaissance. As one of the more complex subsystems of a modern fighter aircraft, it can also account for a significant part of the aircraft’s total cost.
Support started with providing radar expertise in developing the SAAF User Requirement for a multifunction radar system and continued throughout each phase of the Gripen’s radar acquisition process. Regular interaction with the Gripen Joint Project Team and visits to the aircraft and radar industries in Sweden included attending design reviews, accepting radar function and performance verification evidence, developing the electronic counter-countermeasures definition and accepting specification verification evidence.
The team also defined the SAAF’s radar data acquisition requirements, developed acceptance procedures and supported decisions about changes in aircraft radome paint types and radar cross section verification methods. A direct benefit of the successful conclusion of the Gripen radar acquisition program is the SAAF’s direct access to the CSIR’s invaluable source of knowledge about the multifunction radar in their front-line fighters. Subsequent projects for the SAAF have also been based on this knowledge, such as a tactics development tool for the Senior Staff Officer Air Capability Planning.
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