RTAF Begins to Update the Gripen to the MS20 Standard

09 Februari 2021

RTAF JAS-39 Gripen (photo : Jaryd Stock)

In this fiscal year 2021, all Thai armed forces have to cut their budget for supplies in the wake of the economic crisis caused by the Covid19 outbreak that forced the government to borrow hundreds of billions of baht to restore the economy. The procurement of military equipment was one of the first state programs to be cut off.

One of them has an Air Force budget on 11 Gripen fighters (from 12 because of a crash one), which is a refinement of the logistics capability. And adjust the performance in technology and equipment for the training of the aircraft with a budget of approximately 631 million baht

This would be impossible other than upgrading the aircraft to the MS20 standard, with most software enhancements rather than hardware by enhancing the capability of the CDL-39 Datalink system to closely support air support missions. Added support for the Link-16, NATO's standard Datalink system, added Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto GCAS) and Nuclear Warfare Self Defense, Biological Chemistry, radar and sensor capability improvements. additional support for the medium-range Meteor missile and the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb, etc.

Additionally, Gripen's MS20 enhancements will give Gripen the ability to operate a mid-range Meteor air-to-air missile, which the Air Force is interested in. The update will be an upgrade of the PS-05/A radar to the Mk.4 version that will have a 100% increase in detection capability, which will be more suitable for use with long-range Meteor. By changing only the Processing Unit, there is no need to replace the radar dish or any other equipment. "

The Meteor medium-range air-to-air missile is one of the world's most highly efficient missiles. It has one of the highest probability of hitting the enemy, because the missile uses a Ramjet engine that increases the range and maneuverability of the missile. Instead of a conventional solid rocket fuel that typically burns out quickly and the rocket relies on kinetic energy to move towards its target, along with a datalink system between the missile itself and the firing aircraft to enable the firing aircraft to improve its target most current the long firing range makes the aircraft to shoot safer from enemy aircraft counterattack.

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