Converting Fighters Into Drones

As Europe Scrambles To Buy UAVs, Where’s The Pilot In That Gripen? -- Breaking Defense

The Swedes who build the Gripen fighter are known for being practical, producing advanced fighters that are relatively cheap (at least compared to almost everyone else).

At the Paris Air Show the Gripen folks, SaaB Group. very deliberately floated an interesting idea. Since the Gripen uses fly-by-wire technology and advanced avionics which virtually eliminate the need for a pilot during normal flight, why not take the software to the next step and turn the fighters into optionally manned aircraft that can be controlled by a pilot in another Gripen.

The goal, as uttered in Paris by SAAB CEO Håkan Buskhe, would be to provide Europe with a cheaper intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance (ISR) platform. But there appears to be more to it. I spoke with a Gripen source at the show who went much further. He said one of the main uses would be for a Gripen pilot in a manned plane to accompany and guide a group of unmanned aircraft when necessary, making it much cheaper to ferry planes from point A to point B. Also, since the Gripen’s support system already exists countries would not have to develop a separate maintenance system with its own parts, which could be a major draw for some countries.

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My Comment: The idea of converting fighters into drones is not a new one .... but Grippen's idea is a new one .... and I suspect it will be a cheaper alternative to what the Americans and other drone makers are now offering.