Saab JAS-39A Gripen by Italeri

1/72 scale
Kit No. 008
Retail: $24.00
Decals: Two versions – both Flygvapnet (Swedish Air Force)
Comments: Engraved panel lines, detailed cockpit, two-piece canopy, optional position dive brakes, ordnance includes heat-seeking air-to-air missiles, AGM-65 Maverick missiles, cruise missiles and a single cluster bomb unit

History

The Saab Gripen is a light single-engine supersonic multirole fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace and defence company Saab AB. The Gripen has a delta wing and canard configuration with fly-by-wire flight controls. Designed to replace the eye-catching Draken and Viggen fighters of the Swedish Air Force, the Saab JAS-39 Gripen flew for the first time in December 1988, and entered service with the Swedish Air Force in 1996. Upgraded variants, featuring more advanced avionics and adaptations for longer mission times, began entering service in 2003. As of 2020 over 271 Gripens of all models, A–F, had been delivered.

The Gripen employs advanced aerodynamics, aerospace materials and engine technology. The pilot gets information from an air-to-air Tactical Information Datalink System allowing tactical air groups to communicate in real time, maximizing situational awareness. The Gripen is powered by a single Swedish license-built General Electric F404-GE-400 turbofan engine, which can reach Mach 2, and more importantly, Mach 1 at any altitude. Twenty percent of the weight of the airframe is made up of carbon fiber composites. The Gripen also has a low radar and infra-red signature, enhancing its survivability.

On March 29, 2011, the Swedish parliament approved the Swedish Air Force for a 3-month deployment to support the UN-mandated no-fly zone over Libya. Deployment of eight Gripens, ten pilots, and other personnel began on April 2nd April. On June 8, 2011, the Swedish government announced an agreement to extend the deployment for five of the Gripens. By October 2011, Gripens had flown more than 650 combat missions, almost 2,000 flight hours, and delivered approximately 2,000 reconnaissance reports to NATO.

A two-seat aircraft, designated “Gripen Demo”, was ordered in 2007 as a testbed for various upgrades. It was powered by the General Electric F414G, a development of the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet’s engine. The Gripen is generally acknowledged as one of the most advanced modern fighters in the world today.

The Kit

Italeri’s Saab JAS-39A Gripen is injection molded in grey plastic and consists of 86 parts, including 6 clear parts for the canopy, gun sight and navigation lights. The kit bears engraved panel lines and has a detailed cockpit featuring a tub with raised side panel instrumentation, detailed ejection seat, control yoke, and a main instrument panel bearing raised detail to highlight the advance glass screens of the Gripen’s cockpit.

The kit faithfully recreates the Gripen’s forward canards, which are separately mounted. One thing that stands out when looking over the kits two main sprues (there is a third for the clear parts) is Gripen’s relatively small wingspan — a feature that may give it an advantage, as it may be harder to see in a dogfight. There is a detailed burner can for the engine exhaust, as well as an option for open or closed dive brakes. The landing gear are very well detailed.

A key attraction of this kit will be the variety of ordnance provided. There are two heat-seeking air-to-air missiles that appear to be Sidewinder derived, two AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles, what appears to be an aerodynamic but flat cluster bomb unit; a single unidentified missile; and what appear to be two unidentified cruise missiles based on the ventral air intakes. While all these option are exciting, a point of frustration is that the various weapons are not identified by the instructions, leaving models to their own devices and research skills to figure out what they are.

Markings

The kit decals are of high quality, bearing realistic color, fully in register with a nice, semi-gloss finish. Options are provided for Swedish Air Force aircraft bearing one of three numbers, Black 32, Red 02 and Red 11. Black 32 is identified only as an aircraft of Wing F 7, Red 02 is a development aircraft not assigned to any unit, and Red 11 is also
identified as an aircraft of Wing F 7. All aircraft are depicted in a paint scheme of Medium Gray over Light Ghost Gray, with only Model Master and Federal Standard lines being called out. There are some variations: Black 32’s nose is painted Light Ghost Gray, Red 02’s nose is Medium Gray like the rest of the upper surfaces of the aircraft, and Red 11 has a Black nose cone.

Conclusion

A detailed kit of a sleek Swedish fighter that has set a standard for excellence in the 21st Century. Highly recommended.

Reference

A Handbook of Fighter Aircraft, by Francis Crosby; Copyright 2002 by Anness Publishing Limited, London.