JAS 39 Gripen - an overview: Industrial partners

The Gripen is built by the Industrial Group JAS, consisting of Saab Military Aircraft, BAE Systems, Saab-BAe Gripen AB, Ericsson Saab Avionics, Ericsson Microwave Systems, Celsius Aerotech and Volvo Aero Corporation.

BAE Systems, which since 1998 owns 35% of Saab Military Aircraft, in 1995 together with Saab formed the joint venture company Saab-BAe Gripen AB, which will adapt, manufacture, market and support Gripen internationally. BAe was involved in the Gripen programme before that and designed the wing and made wing prototypes and will furthermore produce 45% of the export airframes. Saab Military Aircraft is responsible for the overall system including basic aircraft development and production, as well as testing and delivery.

The foreign content of Gripen is high, 60% by value comes from NATO member countries, 70% from EU members (including Sweden), so upwards 30% is US content, contributed by more than 25 companies. (These figures may have changed slightly since South African companies became involved.)

Suppliers of some of the systems include:

• Presentation and recording systems, genaral and weapons computers, flight control actuators and air data sensors: Ericsson Saab Avionics
• Radar (PS-05/A) and system computers (SDS 801): Ericsson Microwave Systems
• Turn around, servicing, maintenance and testing equipment: Celsius Aerotech
• Engine: Volvo Aero Corporation in cooperation with General Electric
• Radome: Nobel Plastics
• Flight control system: Lockheed Martin, USA
• APU: Sundstrand, USA
• Landing Gear: BAE Systems, UK
• Main landing gear, wing attachment assembly of complete centre fuselages: BAE Systems, Brough, UK
• Main Landing Gear Unit (actually a large, major lower central section of the fuselage with lots of associated systems): Denel Aviation, South Africa. (from late 2001 for all Gripens)
• Fuel system: Intertechnique, France
• INS: Honeywell, USA
• ECM dispensers: CelsiusTech; Ericsson Saab Avionics is responsible for the EWS 39 system
• HUD: Kaiser, USA
• Radio: Rockwell, USA
• Audio management system: Grintek, South Africa. The one for the export version based on their GUS 1000
• Hydraulics: Abex, Germany and Dowty, UK
• Generator: Sundstrand, USA
• Air and cooling: BAE Systems, UK
• Escape system: Martin Baker, UK
• Stores pylons for the export version: Denel Aviation, South Africa
• Airbrake and scoop actuators: Jihlavan a.s., The Czech Republic
• Parts of the tailcone: PZL, Poland
• Fuselage components: Danube Aerospace, Hungary

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Document created 1999, last updated 2001 Mar 18 by Urban Fredriksson