05 Sept 2022: finally a South African Saab Gripen JAS-39 flew again. Fleet was grounded for over a year...

[Stratofreighter]

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/ ... grounding/

Months of uncertainty ended on Monday (5 September 2022)
for the SA Air Force’s (SAAF’s) front line combat fleet
when a single-seat Gripen C (tail number 3918) took off from Air Force Base (AFB) Makhado
in the wake of “intense work by 2 Squadron technicians and pilots”.

Details of the sortie – the first by a SAAF Gripen in a year –
have not been made official
with African Defence Review (ADR) director Darren Olivier saying
3918’s return to the skies followed “final signing of a delayed support contract”
and the sweat equity put in by 2 Squadron personnel.

He called it “a remarkable achievement”, given the timescales and resources available.
Further evidence the single-engined jet fighter’s take-off
was truly a team effort came via the involvement of former 2 Squadron personnel volunteering reserve duty to assist.

Right now, Olivier maintains it’s about regaining basic operational currency
and will be “months” before combat readiness is restored.

“Even then it won’t be to previous levels absent an increase in funding.
There is still a long way to go,” he said, adding 3918’s take-off and subsequent landing was “an important symbolic step”.

“At one stage it wasn’t at all certain we’d ever see a SAAF Gripen in the air again.”

The ever-present spectre of funds, more specifically the lack thereof,
means the newly concluded support contract covers only 13 aircraft.

This Olivier sees as sufficient to rebuild air combat capability, retain scarce skills and provide “some operational deployability”.

The three year contract is, according to him, important for stability and rebuilding capability.

The capability side goes further than 2 Squadron and its air and ground crews.
Forward air controllers (FACs) and other musterings rely on 2 Squadron for currency and qualification.

On paper the SAAF has a Gripen strength of 26,
but one was damaged beyond economic repair and 12 will be mothballed to stay under the budget ceiling, leaving 13 aircraft operational.

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/ ... grounding/