Article Posted on : - Sep 10, 2009

An official photo of Gripen.

NEW DELHI (PTI): Competing for Indian Air Force's over $10 billion deal for 126 Multirole Medium Combat Aircraft (MMRCA), Sweden's Saab group has said it would offer an advanced radar with its Gripen fighter jet to the IAF.

�We are offering an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar with our Gripen IN aircraft, which is more advanced than what other competitors are offering,� Gripen India director Eddy de la Motte said here on Wednesday.

He said the AESA radar offered by Gripen uses the swashplate technology, which provides it more capabilities than its rival radars.

In the MMRCA request for proposal, the AESA radar has been mentioned as the main sensor for the 126 fighters to be inducted by the IAF.

Commenting on the transfer of technology of the radar to India, De la Motte said Saab group would want to take part in the development of the aircraft and know its wherewithal in the process.

He said with its low cost of operations, the Gripen IN would be the least expensive aircraft for the IAF.

At present, the IAF is carrying out flight trials of the six combat jets in fray. The flight trials will be carried out by the IAF in Bangalore, Jaisalmer in Rajasthan and Leh in Jammu and Kashmir respectively.