Saab Carries Out IRIS-T Integration on Gripen Aircraft

Released on Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Saab has successfully carried out the first flight tests with the air-to-air missile IRIS-T to verify the function between the missile and the Gripen aircraft. IRIS-T enhances Gripen's close combat capability, which is an important component for Gripen during future international operations.

"The trials are an important milestone in the Gripen program. IRIS-T is a European collaboration and development project within the missile area, where Saab has a leading role for the integration of complex future missile systems", says Henrik H�jer, responsible for the Gripen program within Saab Aerosystems.

The IRIS-T is an air-to-air missile used by new generation fighters during aerial combat and will replace the American Sidewinder in the near future. The development of IRIS-T is being undertaken as an international industrial project with the participation of Germany, Greece, Italy, Sweden, Norway and Spain. The IRIS-T missile will be introduced as standard weapon system for close-in combat and self-defence of modern fighter aircraft in the air forces of the world. A total of over 4000 IRIS-T missiles will be produced over the coming years.

"The IRIS-T missile and Gripen worked as expected and we are pleased with the flight test results", says Joacim Eriksson, Project Manager for the integration of IRIS-T at Saab Aerosystems.

At the end of 2005, FMV, The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, ordered the integration of the missile on Gripen. Missile flight trials, amongst other things, are included in the integration work. The work started at beginning of the year and will continue to 2009.

Besides the IRIS-T programme Saab is also heavily involved in the Meteor Missile Program, which also is an international cooperation involving leading aerospace companies in Europe.