The Swedish Defense Materiel Agency (FMV) is conducting, in collaboration with the German Air Force (Luftwaffe), test flights and certification in order to validate the Gripen’s ability to receive fuel from A400M tankers.
The A400M is Germany’s newest aircraft, capable of both carrying cargo and refueling other aircraft, making it a very versatile platform. Europe has long had limited aerial refueling capability, so the Germans are keen to demonstrate here that they are helping to reduce reliance on U.S. tankers.
Gripen refuelling from A400M. This will have great effect for air forces flying Gripen in Europe and around the world. A330MRTT up next! Thanks @team_luftwaffe and @forsvarsmakten for making this possible! #airforce #military pic.twitter.com/Q602UViEXw
— Saab (@Saab) September 18, 2021
The A400M is already available in France, the UK and several NATO member nations, setting a standard and increasing the availability in Europe of this essential capability, making it critical for Saab to certify the Gripen for aerial refueling operations with the A400M.
During the test period, the German tanker will operate from Swedish territory, together with four JAS 39 C/D Gripen from the FMV test and evaluation center.
In previous aerial refueling tests against other tankers, FMV had to pay the certification costs alone, but in this case the Germans are also interested in having the Gripen join the list of aircraft certified (including helicopters) to operate with the A400M, so they will bear their own costs.
Test flights start on the ground
Air-to-air refueling tests require preparation. First on paper, assessing whether the equipment fits together and whether the aircraft can fly at the same altitude and speed. Next, the equipment is connected on the ground.
Once this is done, flight tests are conducted to see if the systems work together or if there are deficiencies that need to be addressed.
A total of seven flights will be conducted during the two weeks of testing at the Swedish F21 base in Luleå. Some of these test flights will be at night, to test the ability of both weapon systems to conduct the maneuver safely in the dark, which increases the difficulty of the maneuver and requires experience and concentration on the part of those involved.
Export customers
Once the tests are completed, the legal part follows, where contracts are signed to buy services from each other and things like how to communicate by radio and the level of training the operators in charge of the mid-air fuel handover must have are agreed.
As the Airbus A400M is available in European NATO countries, the validation is also of interest to more countries using the JAS-39/CD, such as Hungary and the Czech Republic.
Next step, is certifiing Gripen in the NATO´s A330 MRTT.
