Saab and GKN Aerospace have signed an agreement giving GKN a larger role in engine and propulsion work for the Gripen E/F, after the Swedish government decided to strengthen national expertise on the engine, according to Saab.
The two companies were tasked with creating the conditions to achieve that, and the agreement establishes GKN Aerospace as Saab’s partner on engine matters for the latest Gripen variant. GKN will progressively take on more of that work, providing expertise, capacity and technical support to the programme.
Johan Segertoft, head of Saab’s Gripen business unit, said: “The cooperation agreement we have now signed lays the foundation for establishing GKN Aerospace as Saab’s partner in engine-related matters for Gripen E/F. For Saab, being able to contribute to strengthening Sweden’s fighter aircraft capability and domestic industrial capacity is of utmost importance.”
The two already work together on the engine for the earlier Gripen C/D, and this agreement extends that arrangement to the E/F.
The Gripen E/F is powered by the F414, an American engine built by GE Aerospace, and a country operating a fighter on a foreign powerplant depends on the supplier for support, upgrades and spares across the aircraft’s life. Building domestic depth in engine expertise reduces how much of that sits outside national control.
GKN Aerospace has substantial operations in Sweden at Trollhättan, where it has long worked on military engine components and support, and the company also has a significant British footprint.
So they keep the F414 engine but develop their own support and reduce reliance on GE Aerospace, seems like a good idea.
Who are the Western military jet engine manufacturers asides from Rolls Royce and GE?
safran
Pratt and Whitney
Safran, Prat & Whitney
Spanish IRP, German MTU, and the Italian Avio Aero which even if part of GE is ITAR free through fully European manufacturing.
“The Gripen E/F is powered by the F414, an American engine built by GE Aerospace” suggests that ITAR restrictions apply.
Presumably GKN Aerospace require a licence from GE Aerospace to manufacture or supply GE parts and use GE service procedures to keep those F414 within OEM type approval as required by customers to uphold their service life expectations. Hard to see how ITAR would not still apply despite the commercial benefit of local factory support.
Looks like America maintains ITAR control whilst enabling GE to focus on the F414 service of American aircraft types while GKN look after the small potatoes of Gripen F414 service..