Article Posted on : - Jul 22, 2010

A-Darter missile fired with South African Gripen. Photo: Saab

OVERBERG (BNS): Saab has successfully tested the A-Darter short-range air-to-air missile integration with the Gripen aircraft in the SAAF (South African Air Force) test area at Overberg, in South Africa.

The test was considered as the most important stage in the A-Darter missile programme.

Gripen was chosen as the platform for these integration tests and has completed them with outstanding results.

“The test firing is an important milestone in the Gripen programme. The A-Darter missile is a collaboration and development project within the missile area between local industry, Denel Dynamics, South Africa and Brazil, where Saab has a leading role for the integration of complex future missile systems ,” Ulf Nilsson responsible for the Gripen programme within Aeronautics at Saab, said in a company news release.

The A-Darter is a fifth-generation short-range air-to-air missile (SRAAM ) to be used during aerial combat with the new generation of fighter aircraft.

In South Africa the missile will be operational on Gripen and in Brazil it is the weapon of choice for the future fighters of the F-X2 programme.

Beside the A-Darter missile programme Saab is also taking part in the Meteor missile programme. The Swedish Government has also approved the order of the Meteor on Gripen for the Swedish Air Force.