Saab's $85m Gripen E fighter to take on the F-35: Swedish jet makes its maiden flight 


Flight of the Valkyrie: US Air Force shows off its new XQ-58A 'loyal wingman' combat drone


The US Air Force has taken the wraps off its new stealth fighter drone.It was developed in just over 2.5 years, from contract award to first flight – a milestone that took place March 5 at the Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona.
The Air Force released footage from the unmanned XQ-58A Valkyrie’s inaugural flight this week, and says the demonstrator craft behaved ‘as expected.’

The XQ-58 Valkyrie is a long-range, high subsonic unmanned air vehicle (UAV) developed by the Air Force Research Lab in partnership with Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems. During its inaugural flight, it was in the air for 76 minutes
The XQ-58 Valkyrie is a long-range, high subsonic unmanned air vehicle (UAV) developed by the Air Force Research Lab in partnership with Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems. During its inaugural flight, it was in the air for 76 minutes

WHAT IS A 'LOYAL WINGMAN' DRONE? 

The ‘loyal wingman’ concept describes aircraft designed to provide unmanned aerial support to other, piloted planes such as the F-35A.
They can carry payload including weapons or surveillance tools, and are used for lower cost strike, surveillance, and electronic support in the skies.
The Air Force ultimately hopes these can work together with pilots and swarms of other unmanned craft. 
Currently, the Air Force is developing the long-range XQ-58 Valkyrie in its latest 'loyal wingman' endeavor. 
WHILE THE AIR FORCE IS OFTEN GUARDED ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF ITS EMERGING CRAFT, FLIGHT ENTHUSIASTS WERE TREATED TO A BRIEF LOOK AT THE NEW VALKYRIE AS IT TOOK ITS MAIDEN VOYAGE IN THE ARIZONA SKIES THANKS TO A 15-SECOND CLIP SHARED ON YOUTUBE THIS WEEK.
The XQ-58 Valkyrie is a long-range, high subsonic unmanned air vehicle (UAV) developed by the Air Force Research Lab in partnership with Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems.
During its inaugural flight, it was in the air for 76 minutes.
The combat drone will be put through a total of five planned test flights in its two phases of development.
This will help to evaluate and perfect system functionality, aerodynamic performance, and launch and recovery systems, the Air Force says.
XQ-58 was developed under the Air Force Research Lab’s Low Cost Attritable Aircraft Technology (LCAAT) portfolio, which is working to create military craft at cheaper prices.
‘The objectives of the LCAAT initiative include designing and building UAS faster by developing better design tools, and maturing and leveraging commercial manufacturing processes to reduce build time and cost,’ the Air Force said in a statement this month.The new stealth craft came to fruition in less than three years.
‘XQ-58A is the first example of a class of UAV that is defined by low procurement and operating costs while providing game changing combat capability,’ Doug Szczublewski, AFRL’s XQ-58A Program Manager.
It’s hoped the craft will eventually be used for lower cost surveillance, strike, and electronic warfare support, according to The Drive.
It would operate as a so-called loyal-wingman, providing support to crewed aircraft.
XQ-58A has a range of more than 2,000 miles and can take off using rocket boosters, The Drive notes.

  • The Gripen E 'Smart Fighter' executed a series of maneuvers to test its systems on 40 minute flight 
  • Weapon options include guided glide bombs and long-range air-to-air missiles 
  • It is aimed at markets not yet cleared to buy the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
  • Sweden's answer to the F-35 has taken its maiden flight, maker Saab has revealed.
During the 40-minute flight over the eastern parts of Östergötland, the latest Gripen executed a series of maneuvers to test its systems, including extending and retracting its landing gear. 
The Gripen E 'Smart Fighter' is aimed at markets not yet cleared to buy the troubled Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. 

The latest version of the Gripen fighter jet has been unveiled by Swedish aircraft maker, Saab. The E fighter, the sixth variant in the Gripen family, is slightly bigger than previous versions
The latest version of the Gripen fighter jet has been unveiled by Swedish aircraft maker, Saab. The E fighter, the sixth variant in the Gripen family, is slightly bigger than previous versions

THE SMART FIGHTER 

The Gripen E 39-8 prototype has a 15.2 metre (50ft) long body and a wingspan of 8.6 metres (28ft).
This allows it to manage a take-off weight of 16,500 kg (36.376lb).
It can reach Mach 2 (1,522 mph, 2,450 km/h) at high altitude with a turnaround time between missions of just ten minutes. 
It is designed to carry more weapons further, and to track multiple threats using the latest type of radar.
Like others in the range, the Gripen E has a delta wing and fly-by-wire flight avionics.
It also has greater fuel capacity, 20 per cent more thrust, more pylons, in-flight refuelling capability and increased take-off weight.

the $85 million Gripen E or Gripen E/F is completely redesigned with an all-new avionics suite and software that allows it to be modified at short notice without extensive layovers. It's fully NATO interoperable and includes Network Centric Warfare (NCW) technology for advanced data communications, dual data links, satellite communications, and video links.
The E fighter, the sixth variant in the Gripen family, is slightly bigger than previous versions, has a stronger engine and updated radar systems.
It is designed to carry more weapons further, and to track multiple threats using the latest type of radar.
Weapons include guided glide bombs, long-range air-to-air missiles and heavy anti-ship armaments.
It also has a 27 mm Mauser BK27 gun, which can be used in air-to-surface attacks against land and sea targets.
'The flight was just as expected, with the aircraft performance matching the experience in our simulations,' pilot Marcus Wandt said after the flight.
'Its acceleration performance is impressive with smooth handling. 
'Needless to say I'm very happy to have piloted this maiden flight.' 
Like others in the range, the Gripen E has a delta wing and fly-by-wire flight avionics.
But unlike some others in the line, it has a greater fuel capacity, 20 per cent more thrust, more pylons, in-flight refuelling capability and increased take-off weight.
It has a 15.2 metre (50ft) long body has a wingspan of 8.6 metres (28ft) whichIt can reach Mach 2 (1,522 mph, 2,450 km/h) at high altitude with a turnaround time between missions of just ten minutes.
The aircraft's sensors include an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Infra-Red Search and Track (IRST), Electronic Warfare (EW) suite and data link technology.
Saab claims that, combined, these sensors give 'the pilot, and co-operating forces exactly the information needed at all times.'
The new jet  is designed to carry more weapons further, and to track multiple threats using the latest type of radar. Weapons include guided glide bombs, long-range air-to-air missiles and heavy anti-ship armaments. It also has a 27 mm Mauser BK27 gun, which can be used in air-to-surface attacks against land and sea targets.
The new jet is designed to carry more weapons further, and to track multiple threats using the latest type of radar. Weapons include guided glide bombs, long-range air-to-air missiles and heavy anti-ship armaments. It also has a 27 mm Mauser BK27 gun, which can be used in air-to-surface attacks against land and sea targets.
About 500 people, including Swedish Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist and Brazilian air force commander Nivaldo Luiz Rossato, watched the rollout of the new Gripen E last week.
The event took place in Linkoping, about 105 miles (170km) southeast of Stockholm.
Selling for about $85 million excluding arms, the Gripen E is slightly cheaper than Rafale or Typhoon and significantly cheaper than the single-engined F-35, which is marketed for stealth
'The Gripen E ensures that Gripen as a brand keeps going against the Rafale, Typhoon and F-35,' said Francis Tusa, editor of Defence Analysis.
Selling for about $85 million excluding arms, the Gripen E is slightly cheaper than Rafale or Typhoon and significantly cheaper than the single-engined F-35, which is marketed for stealth, he added.
But critics say the Gripen lacks the flexibility of twin-engined rivals or the same geopolitical support as U.S., French or pan-European alternatives.
The aircraft, which is already proving in demand, has been in development for about 10 years. The first test flight is expected later this year.
Brazil has ordered 36 Gripen fighters for delivery between 2019 and 2024.
The revamped Gripen E is also one of five aircraft which has attracted Finland's interest as it weighs an order for dozens of jets, according to industry executives.
Boeing's F-18, Dassault Aviation's Rafale, Lockheed Martin's F-35 and the Eurofighter Typhoon, involving BAE Systems, may also be considered.
''The flight was just as expected, with the aircraft performance matching the experience in our simulations,' pilot Marcus Wandt said after the flight
''The flight was just as expected, with the aircraft performance matching the experience in our simulations,' pilot Marcus Wandt said after the flight
Saab said it is also monitoring possible fighter purchases in India, which some say could seek almost 100 warplanes once it completes a delayed order for 36 French Rafales.
'I think we have a very good opportunity in India. We can make an attractive offer that would suit the Indians with their Make in India concept,' Saab aeronautics head Ulf Nilsson said in an interview.
Earlier versions of the plane are in service in the air forces of Sweden, South Africa, Czech Republic, Hungary and Thailand. 

F-35 FIGHTER JET NOW HAS 'BRAIN' PROBLEM

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has been hailed as the 'most expensive weapon in history' 
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has been hailed as the 'most expensive weapon in history' 
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has been hailed as the 'most expensive weapon in history.'
But despite a price tag of $400 billion for 2,457 planes, the fifth-generation fighter has been plagued with issues.
Now, a new report says problems with its logistics software system could ground the entire fleet.
The issue is with what the Department of Defense officials call the 'brains' of plane, also known as the Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS).
A Government Accountability Office report says a failure 'could take the entire fleet offline' because there is no backup system.
The report also says a lack of testing done of the software will mean it's not ready for its deployment by the Air Force in August and the Navy in 2018.
The 'brains' of the F35 are one of three major components, with the other two being the engine and airframe.
CNN points out that the software runs on ground computers rather than operating on the plane itself.
It is designed to support operations, mission planning and to spot any maintenance issues with the vehicle.
'Program officials said that if ALIS is not fully functional, the F-35 could not be operated as frequently as intended,' the report said.
'But a DoD commissioned plan found that schedule slippage and functionality problems with ALIS could lead to $20-100 billion in additional costs.'
So far, the software has been so flawed that maintenance crews have had to resort labour-intensive alternatives.