Switzerland opts for 22 Gripens

[DJdeRidder]

Switzerland has decided to replace its F-5s with 22 Gripens.

More info (in German) at http://www.vbs.admin.ch/internet/vbs/de ... 0.nsb.html

[Stratofreighter]

Ah, nice, at least not yet another Eurofighter deal, which is good for diversity...

[K-9]

Indeed, good for the variety.
However 22 , is far less than the amount of F-5's that fly now isn't it ?

[camel1]

And what about the Patrouille de Suise? How does the future looks like for this team?

[Frank van Hemert]

maybe the Patrouille will switch to the PC-21? or they will keep the lowest hour F-5's for some years to come....

Regards
Frank

[DJdeRidder]

In December 2009 the Chief of the Armed Forces confirmed that the F-5s may continue to fly until 2020. Although he said this when the program was in some sort of 'troubles', we might be able to see those red and white F-5s a couple years longer than the grey ones. If you ask me, I think the team will continue to fly the PC-7 after that. It's all speculation of course, I guess nobody knows..

[topgun1984]

Would be funny to see a Gripen Demoteam though

[leonard van T]

in 2008 they tested the Gripen/Rafale/Eurofighter, back then the said the Frence offered the best deal.
the program was prosponed due to the financial-crisis and the problems at Meieringen (noise)

I would have liked to see Swiss Rafale,s but Gripens are not bad at all !

Lets hope for a nice Tiger-farewell-party at Axalp (formation of 30 Tigers ?!)

Leonard

[aviodromefriend]

Would be funny to see a Gripen Demoteam though

I always thought PS used the newest but one jets-model for their displays. That would give Europe its own Hornet team as soon as the Gripens will be phased in I doubt if they will go for the PC-7, as that is the mount of the other Swiss team.

[Hans Rolink]

Would be funny to see a Gripen Demoteam though

I always thought PS used the newest but one jets-model for their displays. That would give Europe its own Hornet team as soon as the Gripens will be phased in I doubt if they will go for the PC-7, as that is the mount of the other Swiss team.

Maybe the two will merge?
How many F-5's are in PS colours? Close to ten I believe. That is half the future Gripen fleet and one third of the Hornet fleet.

Hans.

[DJdeRidder]

Some interesting results of the test flights performed in Switzerland have been published in the Basler Zeitung. They appear to say the Gripen is less capable than the Eurofighter and Rafale (not really a surprise), but also less capable than the current F/A-18!

The 6-line below represents the minimum score to meet the requirement (and the score that would be achieved by the F/A-18):



Source: http://rafalenews.blogspot.com/2011/11/ ... afale.html

[Erik_7Xi]

Some interesting results of the test flights performed in Switzerland have been published in the Basler Zeitung. They appear to say the Gripen is less capable than the Eurofighter and Rafale (not really a surprise), but also less capable than the current F/A-18!

What Gripen did they then evaluate? The first generation model? The C/D model? or the NG model?

[DJdeRidder]

Some interesting results of the test flights performed in Switzerland have been published in the Basler Zeitung. They appear to say the Gripen is less capable than the Eurofighter and Rafale (not really a surprise), but also less capable than the current F/A-18!

What Gripen did they then evaluate? The first generation model? The C/D model? or the NG model?

For the 'Flugtest 2008' a JAS-39D was used. This not the exact configuration the Swiss will get, but the same goes for the other candidates, so a second evaluation was made (Evaluationsphase II):

A second Evaluation was done between March and August 2009 to take into account the upgrades and improvements of the 3 fighters in their "2015 form". This evaluation was based on data provided by the manufacturers or simulated flights. This final Armasuisse report, with updated rankings was released in November 2009 and is recommending the Rafale for the Swiss Air Force.

[doncorleone117]

Don't forget the Evaluation was for the replacement of the F-5 not for the Hornet.

And Switzerland would like to buy the Gripen. Its not 100% sure they will:

Das VBS soll dem Bundesrat im Februar 2012 mehrere Varianten für die Beschaffung der 22 Gripen unterbreiten. Anschliessend soll die Beschaffung mit dem Rüstungsprogramm 2012 dem Parlament beantragt werden.

http://www.news.admin.ch/message/index. ... g-id=42470

So if the Parlament says no no jets. So we have to wait and see what happend.

[DJdeRidder]

The above mentioned test results were not supposed to be published:
Switzerland Investigates Leaked Fighter Jet Report

It wasn't me!