Czech Gripen combat, comms upgraded
Saab's MS20 capability upgrade has been completed on the Czech Air Force’s Gripen fleet, the company announced on 11 April.
The capability upgrade involved both hardware and software upgrades, improving Gripen's ability to engage ground targets by incorporating unguided and laser-guided bombs into the aircraft payload, and the air-to-air capability is enhanced by the introduction of new radar modes.
The Gripens will also undergo integration of the Litening III electro-optical targeting pod. The pod will be used for guiding missiles and bombs as well as for aerial reconnaissance and combat. The upgrade also implements the Alliance Link 16 data link as well as cryptomodules for covert communication.
Jonas Hjelm, head of Saab business area aeronautics, said: ‘We are very pleased with the success of this capability upgrade. We are honoured to have a long-term partner in the Czech Air Force. It is largely due to this long-term mutual cooperation between Swedish FMV, the Czech Air Force and Saab that the upgrade went smoothly and according to plan.
‘We wish the pilots and the whole air force continued success in meeting their objectives both within their airspace protection operations and their joint NATO operations.’
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