Saab and the Gripen for Canada team, has offered 88 Gripen E fighter aircraft, for Canada’s Future Fighter Capability Project (FFCP). The only “Made in Canada” fighter, Gripen will be built, maintained and upgraded in country for the lifetime of the aircraft – a huge opportunity for Canadian industry.

Leonardo – one of the world’s leading suppliers of aerospace and defence electronics – is a major partner of Saab on the Gripen E and, since 2009, has provided the program with a number of the combat jet’s main sensor systems including the Raven ES AESA radar, Skyward-G Infrared Search and Track (IRST) system and Mode 5 IFF (Identification Friend-or-Foe).

As a member of the Gripen for Canada Team, we are committed to the production and sustainment of world-class defence electronics in Canada as part of the Gripen E programme.

Leonardo already has a significant footprint in Canada, working across the maritime, aerospace, specialist power supplies and satellite domains. Today, we have more than 400 people across five fully integrated design, production and support facilities. We are proud to be supporting the Canadian Armed Forces at home, generating high tech jobs.

As part of Team Gripen, we expect to create even more job opportunities through the in-country through-life support of our sensor capability for Canada’s FFCP.

Delivering Canada’s Future Fighter Capability Project

As outlined in Canada’s defence policy, ‘Strong, Secure, Engaged’, the 88 aircraft of the FFCP will “contribute to the safety and security of Canadians and to meet Canada’s international obligations. A modern fighter jet fleet is essential for defending Canada and Canadian sovereignty, and contributes to our NORAD and NATO commitments, now and in the future.”

The acquisition will include associated equipment, weapons, infrastructure, information technology, and sustainment, including training and software support.

The Saab Gripen E fulfils the Canada FFCP capability by providing an aircraft deployed with electronic warfare developed to disrupt an enemy’s ability to function effectively, avoid detection and designed to stay ahead of future threats. Delivered in partnership with Leonardo, these avionics provide the pilot with critical information as and when they need it – allowing them to make informed decisions that gives them the operational advantage.

Designed in close collaboration with Saab at Leonardo’s Edinburgh site, the Gripen E Raven ES-05 radar features an innovative roll-repositionable AESA antenna that offers pilots superior situational awareness and enhanced aircraft survivability.

The Raven ES-05 radar is optimised for multi-role/swing role operations. The system meets the Royal Canadian Armed Forces’ fire control and intercept radar operational requirements while remaining resistant to radar countermeasures. With a full ±100º field of regard, the aircraft is able to turn away after missile launch, whilst still maintaining datalinks to the missile. This provides a significant edge in the combat air sector.

The radar’s highly reliable AESA transmit-receive module technology delivers extremely high system availability leading to reduced lifecycle costs and offers significantly enhanced performance relative to similar sized systems.

Leonardo also provides the Canadian Gripen-E with the Skyward-G Infrared Search and Track (IRST) system. On-board the aircraft, the IRST system targets opponents by detecting, identifying and tracking their heat emissions in the InfraRed (IR) spectrum. This provides the Gripen-E with a counter-stealth capability, as although stealth platforms are designed to avoid radar, they still emit heat.

Decades of research and investment into IRST technology, computing power and algorithms, mean the Leonardo Skyward-G’s advanced processing can distinguish real targets from ‘noise’ at very long range and therefore provide reliable range estimation without using radar. This allows the Gripen E to operate ‘silently’, in effect shielding the location of the aircraft.

The Gripen-E fighter is also equipped with Leonardo’s Mode 5 IFF (Identification Friend-or-Foe) avionics systems that is essential for allied nations’ combat jets operating alongside in joint operations.

IFF technology allows operators to identify electronically friendly forces, distinguishing them from potential enemies. Our Mode 5 is the latest and most advanced IFF standard that will provide Canada with cutting-edge cryptographic techniques to secure the systems against electronic deception by adversaries. It meets the latest NATO standards, ensuring interoperability with U.S. Forces and other allies.

Functioning independently from the Gripen E’s radar and IRST, the IFF system can look in a different direction, allowing the pilot to use the radar to queue-up targets for subsequent identification.

Developing expert Canadian through-life support

As part of the FFCP, Leonardo is looking to invest in the in-country manufacturing and through-life support of sensors for the Canadian Gripen E.

Canadian industry is currently being evaluated for its potential involvement in the Raven ES-05 radar though the assembly, test and manufacturing of Raven radar components. This presents an opportunity for Canadian industry to contribute to advanced radar products.

Leonardo is already exploring the possible transfer of manufacturing of castings and electronic components for the Skyward-G IRST system to Canadian industry. The transfer of testing capability for elements of the Skyward-G is also being explored to further develop the in-country capabilities.

In addition, the manufacture, assembly and test of key castings and electronic components of the Mode 5 IFF systems is now being considered for transfer to Canada for Industrial and Technological Benefit (ITB).

Leonardo will enhance existing in-country capabilities to set up and support a Line Replacement Unit (LRU) and Shop Replacement Units (SRU) as part of a manufacturing and repair capability in Canada.

This in-country investment demonstrates Leonardo’s commitment to Canada and the FFCP. It underlines the importance we place on having a comprehensive through-life support capability ready to deliver, where possible, the constant availability of the Gripen-E – helping protect Canadian aerospace and contributing to the nation’s international security obligations, when and where required.