Atul Chandra
Could the Saab Sea Gripen be the answer for the Indian Navies requirement for a carrier capable fighter capable of operating of its indigenous aircraft carriers? Saab certainly seems to think so and has made presentations to the Navy as well as to the Integrated Command on the Sea Gripen. According to Tony Ogilvy vice president, International Marketing, Gripen, SAAB AB, “The timeline for development and delivery is approximately five years. A concept-design phase lasting 12-18 months will be followed by a Saab decision on preparing a flight demonstrator. The first test aircraft could be ready in 2017 for proof of concept and carrier deck trials.” Saab has said that it would be in a position to begin deliveries in 2018, if a contract is secured. It had already provided a full response to the Indian Navy Request for Information on Sea Gripen in February 2010.
While India is the principal potential customer for the Sea Gripen, Brazil and Thailand have also received briefings on the aircraft. According to Ogilvy, Saab would like to work in partnership with the Indian Navy, Integrated Command, DRDO and shipbuilding authorities to demonstrate fully the major advantages that a Gripen fighter will bring to the new carrier fleet. Saab has already recruited a team of engineers to staff a new design centre for the Sea Gripen in the UK. According to SAAB, this design phase will build upon many years of investigative work already completed to produce a marine version with the engineers being a mix of Gripen specialists from Linköping, and UK-based experts on carrier operations. The intent here is to build a focused combined Swedish/UK team to deliver the production plans. The Indian Navy (IN) issued a Request for Inquiry (RFI) in the year 2009 for the acquisition of a new generation carrier capable fighter aircraft, the selected aircraft supplementing the Mig-29K of which the Indian Navy has 45 on order. The chances of acquiring another type could be made stronger by delays which continue to dog the indigenously developed LCA Navy fighter which has yet to make its first flight and is said to be overweight by around 300-350 Kg. Coupled with the fact that the Sea Harrier fleet will be retired by next year, one would hope that a situation does not arise leading to carriers setting sail without their full complement of air power. In fact, a recent CAG report on the Indian Navies flying arm went to say that while Naval Aviation holds the key to achieving ‘blue water’ aspirations of the Indian Navy, the current status of the Naval Aviation Wing’s fleet not only renders it ineffective in achieving these goals but would rather make it vulnerable to the growing sophistication of enemy capability.
