Saab confirms negociations with Portugal for Gripen as an alternative to F-35
Saab confirma negociações com Portugal para venda de caças Gripen como alternativa aos F-35
The Gripen uses US-built engines iirc so it’s still a problematic buy for Europeans.
it used to have a volvo engine but volvo aero got absorbed into a british conglomerate about 10 years ago.
point being, we can make the switch again.
The EU can (or rather, could) potentially make lots of things, the question is if there is sufficient political will to do it.
The Volvo one was a license built US engine.
If they want European the choice is the EJ200 that's on the Eurofighter. It's a little less powerful than the US one they're using, probably why they choose the is one. But apparently has room to become more powerful if they take on additional design work.
Never build an airplane without a powerplant.
Sincerely, F-14
tbf seems like the Americans make some pretty good engines, even Airbus a320neo uses
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pratt_%26_Whitney_PW1000G United States
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CFM_International_LEAP France/United States
No doubt, the problem has never been with the quality but with the fact that a hostile American regime can refuse to send spare parts. Which is not as troubling with civil aviation but certainly when we’re talking about our own militaries.
I wonder what will happen to the collaboration between American GE and French Safran that makes the CFM under Trump.
The Dassault Rafale uses Safran engines, right?
Yes!!!!!!!!
Wonderful, now Switzerland should follow suit.
Yes Portugal! Resist!
