Gripen fighter jet starts in Switzerland
The Saab Gripen finally debutes in Switzerland. The jet fighter is to replace the Swiss Air Force’s fleet of F-5 Tiger. And to show the full capabilities of the Swedish fighter jet, it was demonstrated at the annual flight demonstration that occurred at the Axalp-Ebenfluh shooting range. The Gripen was chosen for the Swiss Air Force after a long process and various competing aircrafts including the Eurofighter and the French Rafale. Every year, the flight demonstration at the Axalp event attracts thousands of spectators that hike up the mountain for hours to reach the shooting range, which is situated at more than 2 000 meters above sea level. This year was no exception, it is estimated that approximately 7 000 people witnessed the event. The Gripen E/F Test Aircraft was flown by a Swiss pilot in the front seat and with a Saab test pilot in the back seat. The flights at Axalp was a good opportunity to show Gripen in Switzerland, both to the public and politicians. Gripen E/F, the next generation Gripen, is an advanced and modern fighter aircraft system that meets the demands of tomorrow’s air defense from countries around the world. Saab keeps building on experiences from previous versions of Gripen which have a proven track record with five air forces. The next generation Gripen will have a dramatically enhanced performance. The Gripen E aircraft delivered to Switzerlandwill be a state-of-the-art fighter aircraft system with advanced capabilities. The new software and hardware (e.g. the new AESA radar) of the next generation Gripen E have been tested and demonstrated in the Gripen E/F test aircraft.
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