Aestrup EF-105 Gripen

EF-105 Gripen
Acrean Air Force EF-105B2
Role	Air superiority fighter
National origin	Acrea
Manufacturer	Norderstedt Luftraumsystemet AG
Design group	Norderstedt Luftraumsystemet AG
First flight	1955
Introduction	1959
Retired	1987
Status	In service
Primary user	Royal Acrean Air Force
Produced	1958-Present

The Aestrup EF-105 Gripen is a series of single-engined air superiority fighters designed by Aestrup Luftfahrtsselskab AB for the Acrean Air Force. First entering service in 1959, the Gripen formed a core component of Acrea's air defence forces until the 1970s, and served well into the 1980s. With its double delta wing and Mach 2 capability, it was revolutionary at the time of its introduction and was one of the first true supersonic fighters in service.

Although it began its service life in 1959, constant upgrades to the Gripen's peripheral and core systems, avionics, airframe, and powerplants kept it competitive well into its long service life. Owing to its delta wing, the Gripen earned a reputation as a supremely agile fighter, capable of extreme angles of attack. It was continuously updated with new avionics and weapons systems, and thus remained arguably the most capable air-to-air fighter in Acrea's inventory until the introduction of the EF-131 Naga, its replacement, in the early 1970s.

Operators

Former Operators

• Royal Acrean Air Force

Specifications (EF-105C Block 68)

General Characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length:
• Wingspan:
• Height:
• Wing Area:
• Empty Weight:
• Fuel Capacity:
• Powerplant:

Performance

• Maximum Speed: Mach 2.2 at altitude
• Mach 1.25 at sea level
• Service Ceiling: 20,000 m

Armament

• Guns: 2 x 30mm cannon with 400 rounds
• Payload: 6 external hardpoints with a capacity of up to 9,000 kg

See Also

Aircraft of Comparable Role, Configuration, and Era