SAAB JAS-39 (A,B,C,D) "Gripen"

(Version 1.01 - Last updated: 07/16/04)

Background and RPG stats by Kenneth Olson

Artwork by Ted Nomura, Pat Kelley, Pat Thornton, Katie Gillette, Ben Dunn

Published in Antarctic Press Robotech #7 and #8

BACKGROUND

The JAS-39 "Gripen" was designed in the mid 1980's to replace the aging Viggen and Drakens fighters and provide the first "fourth-generation" multi-strike fighter to the Swedish Air Force.  As with all Swedish fighters, the Gripen is designed to use small low-tech airbases scattered around the countryside and take-off and land in less than 800 meters of unimproved automobile roadways.  The resultant fighter uses advanced avionics and the close-coupled canard wing configuration common to the multinational Euro-fighter, French Rafale, and the aborted Israeli Lavi.  The Gripen is composed primarily of a carbon-fiber composite construction which makes up 25 percent of the airframe weight.  The design is not as stealthy as some other 4^th generation fighters; however, the fighters small size and reduced signature intakes have reduced its overall radar cross section.

The initial flight of the Gripen occurred on December 9, 1989 and proved so successful that the Swedish Air Force ordered 500 aircraft in light of the deteriorating global situation prior to the Global Civil War.  One year before the start of the Global Civil War in January of 1992, Eastern Co-Prosperity countries were able to persuade neutral Sweden to buy nearly 200 fighters in exchange for guarantees of territorial security.  Nearly 175 Gripens were delivered prior to the start of hostilities at which point deliveries stopped; however, during the war the Gripen showed that the fighter was equal to its contemporary light multi-role fighters such as early model F-16 and F/A-18 fighters. 

After the crash of the SDF-1 and subsequent end of the Global Civil War, the formerly neutral Sweden was an early member of the United Earth Government (UEG) and was given access to key advanced technologies from the SDF-1.  This allowed SAAB engineers to provide a second generation Gripen with advanced alloys which provide greater protection from enemy weaponry and resulted in new over-technology turbojet design with vastly improved fuel economy and thrust to weight ratios over the older models.  The PS-05A radar was replaced with an active, electronically scanned antenna (AESA) which could be mechanically gimbaled.  This allows the system to scan ±60 degrees electronically and if needed an additional ±60 degrees mechanically.  The newly designed JAS-39 (C,D) models entered into production in 2010 and continued until the end of the First Robotech War in 2011 during which time nearly 325 advanced units were produced.

Nearly the entire Swedish air force was destroyed during the Zentraedi bombardment of the planet and only 137 Gripens survived.  The UEG decided to upgraded all the surviving aircraft to the more advanced -C/D and this work was completed in 2015.  The Gripen saw little combat use in the interlude between the 1st and the 2nd Robotech Wars and eventually all the UEG Gripens were placed into reserve by 2027.  There was some interest at the start of the 2nd Robotech War to upgrade the remaining 75 units which had been placed in mothballs; however, the costs proved too prohibitive and the entire fleet remained in the UEG aircraft bone yard throughout the conflict.  There were several reports of Gripens being used by resistance groups during the 3rd Robotech War.  Although these reports were never confirmed, the Gripens ability to use small stretches of highway to take-off and land and coupled with the fact that the Gripen uses a conventional power plant would make the fighter desirable to resistance groups.

RPG STATS

Vehicle Type:  SAAB JAS-39 "Gripen"

Class: Multirole strike aircraft

Manufacturer:  SAAB-Scania
Crew: One Pilot (A,C),  two pilots  (B,D)

Service History:

JAS-39 (A,B): Single (two) seat multi-role strike aircraft, served with Sweden from 1992-2010 and with Eastern Co-Prosperity Sphere from 1994-2010

JAS-39 (C,D):  Single (two) seat multi-role strike aircraft, served with Sweden from 2002 until 2010 and with the United Earth Defense Forces from 2002 until 2010 

MDC BY LOCATION:

NOTES:

1. Destroying the MDC of the main body or the Pilots Compartment will destroy the mecha
2. Destruction of either of the wings or tails will send the Gripen into and uncontrollable spin

SPEEDS:

MAXIMUM SPEED:

JAS-39 (A):  1100 kph  (Mach 0.9) at sea level and 2150 kph (Mach  1.97) at 30 kft

JAS-39 (B):  1050 kph (Mach 0.86) at sea level and 2025 kph (Mach 1.86) at 30 kft
JAS-39 (C):  1300 kph (Mach 1.06) at sea level and 2525 kph (Mach 2.31) at 30 kft
JAS-39 (D):  1220 kph (Mach 1.0) at sea level and 2350 kph (Mach 2.15) at 30 kft

CRUISE SPEED (max performance without afterburner): 

JAS-39 (A):  1000 kph  (Mach 0.92) at 30 kft

JAS-39 (B):  900 kph (Mach 0.82) at 30 kft
JAS-39 (C):  1400 kph (Mach 1.28) at 30 kft
JAS-39 (D):  1100 kph (Mach 1.01) at 30 kft

STALL SPEED:

JAS-39 (A):  180 kph

JAS-39 (B):  190 kph
JAS-39 (C):  170 kph
JAS-39 (D):  180 kph

CLIMB RATE:

JAS-39 (A):  5,000 meters per minute

JAS-39 (B):  4,500 meters per minute
JAS-39 (C):  6,000 meters per minute
JAS-39 (D):  5,500 meters per minute 

CEILING:

JAS-39 (A):  16,000 m (52.5 kft)

JAS-39 (B):  15,700 m (51.5 kft)
JAS-39 (C):  18,500 m (60.7 kft)
JAS-39 (D):  17,250 m (56.5 kft)

MIN TAKE-OFF DISTANCE: 

JAS-39 (A/B):  800 meters

JAS-39 (C/D):  650 meters

MIN LANDING DISTANCE: 

JAS-39 (A,B):  600 meters with drag chute

JAS-39 (C,D):  550 meters with drag chute

DESIGNED G LIMITS:

+9.0 to -3.0 g

RANGE:

• Nominal:  JAS-39(A) - 1,600 km, JAS-39(B) - 1,450 km,  JAS-39(C) - 2,100 km,  JAS-39(D) - 1,911 km
  
• Maximum / Ferry:  JAS-39(A) - 3,000 km, JAS-39(B) - 2,718 km,  JAS-39(C) - 3,938 km,  JAS-39(D) - 3,583 km
• Low Altitude:  JAS-39(A) - 960 km, JAS-39(B) - 870 km,  JAS-39(C) - 1,260 km,  JAS-39(D) - 1,147 km

STATISTICAL DATA:

LENGTH:

14.1 m (A,C)
14.8 m (B,D)

WINGSPAN:

8.4 m

HEIGHT:

4.5 m

WEIGHT (DRY):

• Dry:  JAS-39(A) - 6,622 kg, JAS-39(B) - 6,850 kg,  JAS-39(C) - 6,250 kg,  JAS-39(D) - 6,350 kg
  
• Max Take-Off:  JAS-39(A) - 12,500 kg, JAS-39(B) - 13,100 kg,  JAS-39(C) - 14,250 kg,  JAS-39(D) - 14,750 kg

 ENGINE THRUST

JAS-39 (A,B):  1 x General Electric / Volvo Flyingmotor RM12 turbofan, 54 kN static thrust with 80.5 kN of afterburner

JAS-39 (C,D):  1 x General Electric / Volvo Flyingmotor RM13 turbofan with overtechnology, 70 kN of static thrust with 130 kN of afterburner 

INTERNAL FUEL CAPACITY:

JAS-39 (A,C):  794 US gal (3,008 liters) 

JAS-39 (B,D):  754 US gal (2,852 liters)

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

1. (All) 1 x 27MM MAUSER BK-27 27MM CANNON (JAS-A,C only):  A single Mauser BK-27 27mm cannon is mounted in the fuselage underneath the left air intake.  The cannon is capable of firing up to 6,500 rounds per minute with a muzzle velocity in excess of 1250 meters per second.  The cannon is fed from an internal 120 round storage drum.
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-aircraft
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Ground support
   • RANGE: Accurate out to 1500 m against moving targets
   • DAMAGE: Armor Piercing (AP):  2D4 MDC short burst or 3D4 MDC medium burst.   High Explosive Incendiary Tracer (HEI-T):  2D4 MDC short burst or 2D6 MDC medium burst
   • RATE OF FIRE: Single shots or bursts equal to the combined attacks of the pilot.
   • PAYLOAD: 120 rounds or 12 short bursts (10 rounds) or 6 medium (20 rounds)
   • NOTES:  HEI-T add +2 to strike, critical strikes on conventional aircraft on 17-20
   
   
2. (All) 6 x BODY/WING HARD POINTS:   Up to  7,942 lb (3,600 kg) of external stores can be mounted on two wingtip, two wing, one centerline, and one below the starboard air intake (total of six).   Each hard point can mount short range missiles (such as the AA-8 or AA-11), a single medium range or long range missile (such as the AA-10 or AA-12), or up to 500 kg of fuel, equipment or ordinance.  The JAS-39 "Gripen" could mount Western Alliance equivalent weapons, such as the AMRAAM, however as the fighter was primarily used an adversary role during the Global Civil War and subsequent use in the EBSIS, Eastern Co-Prosperity weapons are presented here.
   
   • AA-10 ALAMO (R-27):  The AA-10 "Alamo" was a contemporary of the American Sparrow AIM-7M missile.  The missile is equipped with a semi-active radar homing head; although, several variants using passive IR and active RF are known to exist.  The AA-10 was used extensively by Russian and Eastern Co-prosperity forces during the Global Civil War; however, the missile was gradually phased out by the AA-12 in the early 21st century.   
     • PRIMARY PURPOSE:  Anti-aircraft
     • MISSILE SPEED:  3,000 kph
     • RANGE:  80 km
     • GUIDANCE:  Semi-active radar
     • DAMAGE: 2D6*10
     • BLAST RADIUS: 40 feet
     • RATE OF FIRE:  One Missile
     • STRIKE BONUS:  +2 to strike
     
     
   • AA-11 ARCHER (R-73):   The premier short range all-aspect IR missile of the former Soviet Union, Eastern Co-Prosperity Sphere Forces and EBSIS.  The missile is directly connected to the pilot's helmet which allows engagements lateral to the aircraft. 
     • PRIMARY PURPOSE:  Anti-aircraft
     • MISSILE SPEED:  2,000 kph
     • RANGE:  40 km
     • GUIDANCE:  All aspect infrared
     • DAMAGE: 1D6*10
     • BLAST RADIUS: 30 feet
     • RATE OF FIRE:  One missile
     • STRIKE BONUS:  +3 to strike
     
     
   • AA-12 ADDER (R-77):   A Russian missile similar to the American AIM-120 AMRAAM missile.  The AA-12 is inertially guided to the target from launch through mid-course and terminally guided by its own onboard active RF seeker.  The AA-12 missile was introduced during the global civil war of the mid 1990's and became the premier medium range missile for the Eastern-Co-Prosperity Sphere Forces.
     • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-aircraft
     • MISSILE SPEED:  3,000 kph
     • RANGE:  100 km
     • GUIDANCE:  Inertial with terminal active radar
     • DAMAGE: 2D4*10
     • BLAST RADIUS: 35 feet
     • RATE OF FIRE:  One missile or in volleys of two
     • NOTES:  +4 to strike
     
     
3. 2 x BOP-402 CHAFF/FLARE DECOY DISPENSERS: Two chaff flare decoy dispensers are located in two dispensers located in the rear of the aircraft.  Each dispenser can hold up to 30 decoys apiece with the standard load out consisting of  50% chaff bundles and 50% flares.  The type and number of each decoy is triggered manually by the pilot.
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-missile
   • RANGE:  100 m
   • RATE OF FIRE:  Up to 10 decoys per attack
   • PAYLOAD:  30 decoys per dispenser
   • NOTES:    In game play only chaff bundles will affect RF missiles and flares affect IR missiles.  The player must declare after the missile strike, without knowledge of the natural strike roll of the missile attack,  which type of decoy he is deploying.  For each effective decoy deployed subtract -3 from the natural die roll for dumb missiles (those with strike rolls +2 or less), -2 from the natural die from for standard missiles (+3 to strike), -1 from the natural die roll from intelligent missiles (+4 or greater to strike).  If the natural die roll, with out any strike bonuses added falls below +5 then the decoys are effective and the missile(s) will miss their intended target.

STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE GRIPEN:

• ACTIVE SENSOR JAMMER RB-74:  Optional ECM pod can be mounted on the wingtip hardpoints.  Estimated system effective radiative power 20 dBW.
• AUTO-PILOT: The Gripen is equipped with a computerized auto-pilot, allowing the pilot to relax or even sleep during long voyages. The auto- pilot can be programmed with a single destination or a complex flight plan involving multiple speeds, directions, and destinations. The onboard computer will alert the pilot when the fighter is near its destination, and can also be set to automatically signal when sensors detect objects near the fighter.
• CHAFF AND FLARE DISPENSERS BOP-402: 30 chaff and 30 flares in two dispensers located in two pylons underneath the wings, see entry above for further details.
• COMBAT COMPUTER WITH HUD DISPLAYS ERICSSON SDS-80:  The combat computer tracks and identifies specific enemy targets and displays them on a heads up display.  The radar and combat computer can identify and track up to 15 targets simultaneously and engage with up to two semi-active missiles.
• INFRARED SEARCH AND TRACK TARGETING SYSTEM:   The Gripen mounts a forward looking infrared search and tracking targeting system in a small housing immediately ahead of the windshield and laser ranging system.  The system can be used to engage inbound targets when use of the radar is prohibited because of restricted use of radar emissions.  The system has a range of 30 km and while in use the aircraft retains its strike bonus.
  
• INFRA-RED WARNING RECEIVER (IRWR):    Providing rear aspect protection from IR guided missiles
• LASER TARGETING SYSTEM:  System has a range of 50 km and is used to increase the accuracy of onboard weapons. 
• RADAR ERICSSON/BAE PS-05A X-BAND PULSE DOPPLER:  Detection radar against 0 dBsm target 30 km.  The radar has limited multi-targeting capability being able to track up to 50 targets but can engage only 4 at any given time. 
• RADIO/VIDEO COMMUNICATION: Long range, directional communications system with satellite relay capabilities. Range: 300 miles (960 km) or can be boosted indefinitely via satellite relay.
• RADAR-ABSORBING SKIN COVER: The Gripen makes use of composite material which reduces the aircrafts passive radar cross section.
  
• RADAR WARNING CELSIUSTECH (RWR):  Providing all aspect broadband protection from RF guided missiles. 
• STANDARD SURVIVAL KIT: All EBSIS fighters come equipped with a portable survival kit. Inside the small reinforced box is a medium-sized flashlight, two hand flares, one rocket flare, a compass, infrared distancing binoculars, a small mirror, a pocket knife, dehydrated and concentrated food (can be stretched into a five day supply for one person) and basic first aid items (aspirin, bandages, disinfectants, etc.)
• TACTICAL LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM: The Gripen's cockpit is pressurized, and also provides additional air feeds to the pilot's flight suit that provides him with pressurized breathing. The EBSIS flight suit also contains an upper and lower g-suit that promotes blood circulation even during high-g turns, thus decreasing the possibility of pilot's blacking out in combat.
  
• TOWED DECOY AN/ALE-55:  Fiber optic towed decoy providing enhanced protection against RF guided surface to air missiles.

COMBAT BONUSES FOR JAS-39 (A,B) TRAINING:

• 2 actions per melee plus those of the pilot (and those of the weapon systems officer, JAS-39B)
  
• Add one additional action at levels six and eleven.
• +1 to strike with 20mm Cannons
• +5 to dodge (+4 for JAS-39B)
  
• +15% on all piloting skill checks (+10% for JAS-39B)
  

COMBAT BONUSES FOR JAS-39 (C,D) TRAINING:

• 2 actions per melee plus those of the pilot (and those of the weapon systems officer, JAS-39D)
  
• Add one additional action at levels six and eleven.
• +2 to strike with 20mm Cannons
• +6 to dodge (+5 for JAS-39D)
  
• +25% on all piloting skill checks (+20% for JAS-39D)
  

Random Hit Locations

When there is an equal chance of hitting both sides from 1D6

• 1-3 hits the right side
• 4-6 hits the left

When there is a preferred side, roll 1D10

• 1-8 hits the preferred side
• 9-10 hits the opposite side

REFERENCES USED IN THIS DESIGN

• Janes:  JAS-39 "Gripen"
  
• Periscope:  JAS-39 "Gripen"

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