NATO-compatible stores tests continues successfully

Gripen continues to complete verification trials to qualify its expanded load of NATO compatible air-to-surface weapons. The Flight and Verification Test team has successfully met the declared milestones in the integration and clearance of various weapons, including the entire precision weapons system for the attack role.
Envelope expansion tests were conducted in 2003 for the GBU-10, GBU-12 and GBU-16 series of Laser Guided Bombs (LGBs) along with the associated Mk 82, Mk 83 and Mk 84 General Purpose (GP) bombs. The Gripen is also being qualified to carry a new twin store carrier, NATO pylons and a redesigned 300 gal drop tank (known as the Export Drop Tank Large, or EDTL). This new array of under wing stores required some additional flight flutter testing, handling qualities and initial carefree maneuvering trials - the first stage of these trials was completed at the end of May 2004.

With the aircraft ready to fly with its new load configurations, the first weapons release in the NATO clearance test series followed quickly. This took place on 11 June 2003 when development aircraft 39-3 released a 1000-lb Mk 83 bomb over the RFN Vidsel range in northern Sweden. Further separation tests were conducted with the 500-lb Mk 82 GP bomb, the 2,000-lb GBU-10 Paveway II LGB and the EDTL. Hand-in-hand with these achievements came the completion of the environmental flight test phase for the Gripen Litening G III Laser Designation Pod (LDP). Earlier this year successful flights were performed with the KEPD-350 stand-off dispenser. Gripen has also been selected to be the platform to conduct the first air launched live missile firing of the new generation Meteor missile.

Altogether, the Gripen team plans call for a series of six weapons test campaigns. Each campaign will last for up to a month and will see the progressive clearance of larger weapons loads and more sophisticated delivery techniques. The second phase of trials, performed last autumn, included the first separation tests of the 500-lb GBU-12 and 1,000-lb GBU-16 LGB's, while the FLIR/LDP tests were successfully performed this spring.

Moving forward, the weapons team will complete the full envelope expansion program, which includes the latest model AGM-65G Maverick and its associated LAU-117 launchers and later, clearance of additional variants of the Maverick - including the AGM-65H and K - will follow. Trials of the Litening G III system should be fully completed by the end of this year, allowing for fully guided end-to-end trials of the LGBs. Included in the series of tests is also the full clearance of air-to-air weapons such as the AIM-9L/M and AIM-120 B/C5, which will be concluded this autumn.