Time for some Gripen dreaming

[GTX]

Hi folks,

I've always thought that the SAAB Gripen deserves to be the F-5 of the 21st century.  It offers everything you could want in one compact package, comes at a relatively low operating cost and is designed for ease of maintenance.  Whilst it has been relatively successful to date (South Africa, Hungary, etc), what if it were even more successful.  Think of the possibilities (some of which may closer to reality):

Saudi Arabia (replacement for F-5);
New Zealand;
UK (replacement for Jag & a nice compliment to Typhoon and possibly a naval version - the Sea Gripen);
Norway;
Austria;
Finland;
Denmark;
Phillipines;
Singapore;
Malaysia;
Indonesia;
Vietnam;
India (both land and Naval version);
Switzerland;
Canada;
USAF/USN (Aggressor);

the list of potential operators goes on...

Regards,

Greg

[Maverick]

My Gripen whifs began before the SAAF decided to take the type on, but are still 'near future' whifs.  I had a similar problem back in 2001 - 2 when i was thinking up a 2nd Iraq war.... bugger Bush Jnr...  

[Son of Damian]

Austria has actually ordered the Typhoon after it bet out the F-16 and Gripen, after the latter turned out to be reather expensive!!! There was an interesting article at acig.org  http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_476.shtml

USAF/USN Aggressor now that would be really really really really really really Coooool!!! B)  B)  B) I wouldn't be surprised if we leased some Rafaels and/or Gripens for dissimilar combat trainning similar to the F-21/Kfir. They would look really cool in US aggressor colors wouldn't they!!! B)  B)  B)  
This one is my favorite!!!    

[GTX]

Hi folks,

A few more for the list:

Brazil (both land and Naval version);
Chile;
Peru;
Mexico;
Spain (Mirage F-1 replacement);
Germany (if they had pulled out of Typhoon as they were threatening to do a few years back - in fact, they also tried for a single engined Typhoon);
Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania;
Greece.

My god, this list is endless!!!  I better buy somne kits and decals.

Regards,

Greg

[Hobbes]

You rang?

[Archibald]

I like the idea of an agressor Rafale, but be careful at the Agressor! He could slaughter your F-16, F-18 E/F, F-15 and even F-35...      

[Radish]

Oh how lovely.  

[Archibald]

yeeeesssssssssss!!!! It was just a joke of course...  

[Swedish Mick]

In my Project planning notes, I can see that I sometime hope to be building a TF-39B in Brazilian colours, a F-39A in Bulgarian and maybe a F-39A in some other interesting marking, why not Vietnamese or Qatarian ...
There are many possibilities even in the real world. Export sales have failed in Switzerland, Finland, Chile, Austria, Brazil, Poland, Netherlands, Philippines, Australia and Singapore. Under speculations/negotiation or evaluations is Bulgaria, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Qatar, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland (again), Thailand, Vietnam, Denmark, Greece and Norway. And there might be some I've missed.
As GTX says, some of the earlier mentioned countries may be close to reality.

[Hatchet]

Israel already have a Gripen

I'm thinking about doing a Danish one. Trouble is, I'd like it to have the digital camo in different colors from that Hornet, but that would probably make me go blind. I've switched to 1/72 since I built the Israeli one.

[Family Guy]

I always loved the idea of euro-canard winning the export war

For eastern Europe and some Asian countreys the Gripen

Central Europe and Middle east the Typhoon

And Rafale gets the rest muhahaha    

[Archibald]

apparently at one time the Swedish wanted an ehanced grippen with conformal fuel tanks and F-414 engine  

[Son of Damian]

Thats a cool pic GTX, where did you find it???
And what are those thingies strung out behind it???
     

[elmayerle]

Towd decoys such as several aircraft can use these days.

[GTX]

Towd decoys such as several aircraft can use these days.

Bingo!