Know it respected sir and I am not nuts . I knew about it much before this thread was posted . I was talking about this prototype not the actual plane that will be about 6-7 times of the prototype as its of 13 % scale . also what has stopped them to create a plane of actual size than creating something of 13 % scale to the original.
* I would request you to stop taking things seriously and react as if someone was personal to you . Take a chill pill .
This fighter has potential and I don't think that it will be so light as you think. With the NG series, SAAB has now increased its dimensions for more fuel, more payload and more range. This means naturally the overall weight would be also increased. Gripen is rapidly evolving into a medium class fighter and I think it will fully become so when this version of Gripen is finally made.
Although in one of the other threads, there was a report about ADA or someone incharge of the AMCA was in talks with SAAB. From what I can deduce in that article, I think that AMCA will have a small under the table cooperation with Sweden as well. Sweden fits the bill fine as long as they get their share:
- A neutral country politically
- Low profile and peaceful
- Good relations with India
I have a feeling that SAAB is being roped in to speed up the AMCA project since ADA knows that our own bureaucracy will never get AMCA in time (~2022-25), while J-20 is already in testing phase. By optimistic estimates, we will need at least 3-4 years of testing of each component on AMCA which means it should be test-ready by 2017-18 at least--- something which ADA/HAL will not be able to do on its own, despite experience gained in Tejas. Guess that's where SAAB comes in--- expertise and consultancy.
If one sees the NG version offered in MRCA, it now classifies itself as a "medium combat jet" though just barely but still in the category. It has a better performance than F-16 (Czech record in the recent Red Flag of screwing both F-15 and F-16s of USAF) and the NG can carry hell lot more than C/D versions of Gripen.
Take a look:
For all the battle we have raged here for who will win MMRCA, don't be shocked in SAAB wins the deal. Technically if we see, there are a lot of factors that favour Gripen.
1- The only non-American single engine medium jet
2- Sweden being majority maker (except engines) still gives IAF more autonomy than buying the other possibility of SH.
3- From above report I mentioned, Sweden might assist us for AMCA though maybe under-the-table so Gripen NG could possibly be in IAF colors
4- NG is bigger, heavier and carries far more payload than earlier Gripens, hence putting it in medium class; HAL Tejas will still retain its role as Light fighter.
5- Operationally it is the cheapest (other than MiG-35). Think from IAF POV: the fleet that we all are dreaming of would make IAF double-engine loaded; a humungous cost of maintaining. Gripen NG version would be a medium, versatile, neutral fighter with supercruise, AESA radar, low radar signature, full TOT.
If Gripen wins, we can have:
150-200 Tejas, (1 engine)
200 NGs (1 engine)
100-150 AMCA (2 engine)
250-300 FGFA/PAKFA (2 engine)
272 MKIs (2 engine)
By full TOT, I meant that Swedish Volvo has made the previous engines (even if US assembled) which means that we can consult them in Kaveri project and also means that we could maybe in case of sanctions use Kaveri instead of GE414 in future. If you look at it, the jet has potential and may turn up to be the winning underdog.
