LYNN, Mass. - The Saab Gripen Demonstrator aircraft powered by a GE F414G engine successfully completed its first flight on May 27 at Saab, Linkoping, Sweden. The flight lasted 30 minutes and completed all planned goals.
"This flight is a major milestone for the Saab and GE propulsion integration team, which adapted the Gripen aircraft and the F414 engine," said Tony Mathis GE - Vice President. F414/F404 Programs. "This is the first adaptation of an F414 for a single-engine application. This team was able to meet all the integration and flightworthiness requirements while holding an accelerated schedule."
Volvo Aero has joined with GE to support this development program and the flight and demonstration testing that will continue beyond 2010. Cooperative relationships with both Volvo Aero and airframe manufacturer Saab have led to this milestone and will continue through the Gripen Demonstrator Program and beyond.
"Everything went according to plan. The Gripen Demonstrator aircraft is more powerful compared to earlier versions of Gripen, but it is just as easily flown. We look forward to continuing the test program at the same high pace as up to now," says test pilot Mikael Seidl, who together with his colleague Magnus Ljungdahl crewed the first flight.
The Gripen Demonstrator is a flying testbed for the Next-Generation Gripen and for the further development of present versions. The F414G provides the Gripen with more than 20 percent additional thrust and contributes to significant improvements in aircraft performance, range and payload.
The 22,000-pound-thrust-class F414G turbofan engine utilizes the advanced technology, reliability, maintainability and operability of the combat-proven F414 engine that powers the U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. To date, more than 800 F414-GE-400 engines have been delivered and have accumulated more than 900,000 flight-hours. F414-GE-400 engines also powers Boeing's EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft.
The F414 is a potential powerplant for emerging platforms such as the Korean KF-X and the Indian Medium Combat Aircraft, as well as growth versions of the KAI/LMTAS T-50, and the Indian Light Combat Aircraft. GE Aviation continues to develop advanced technology for the F414 engine, paving the way for future upgrades to improve component capability for a significant reduction in ownership costs, or up to a 20 percent increase in thrust with improved specific fuel consumption.