Swiss comparison beetween Gripen, Typhoon & Rafale

The Gripen does not meet the minimum expectations of air policing. This is the conclusion reached by two confidential reports Swiss Air Force which we publish extensive excerpts on our website. They contradict the statements of the Defence Minister Ueli Maurer which ensures that the aircraft Swedish "Helvetic meets military requirements." On November 30, at the press conference presenting the choice of the Federal Council, Maurer had even repeated six times.His whole argument was based on the idea that the Gripen, but not a Ferrari, was at least a good VW Golf which would greatly needs of Switzerland. But this is not true. For judgment in the Air Force documents obtained by "The Sunday Morning" is clear: the Gripen, even with the 98 elements that will be improved (engine, radar, tank, etc..), "Remains unable to achieve minimum capabilities for all types of missions reviewed. "These assessment reports are dated November 2009. The first is based on flight test, the second gives notes from the improvements announced by the manufacturers. Both are signed by the Chief of the Air Force and Markus Gygax were written in English ("The only way to be certain that Romands, Alemanni and Ticino to understand," says a senior.). Their authenticity is not disputed by the Swiss Air Force.Unfit for air policingGaps they highlight are particularly serious with regard to air policing. Serious because if Switzerland can give up to have a jet capable of going to drop a big bomb on a remote target of 5000? Kilometers, it has to be able to ensure the sovereignty of its airspace.This is the only mission that the Air Force are certain of having to take the next few years, for example to ensure the no-fly zone during the Davos Forum.Against all odds, it is precisely for this air policing mission of the score of MS21 Gripen is the worst. The MS21 is the technical name of the Gripen E / F that the Federal Council intends to buy, as confirmed by the spokesman for the Air Force Jürg Nussbaum. It was only 5.33? 10 points, well below the minimum limit of 6.0 determined at the beginning of the evaluation process. The Eurofighter and Rafale reached 6.48 6.98. Note the Gripen is mainly due to a reaction time for takeoff emergency too slow ("Quick Reaction Alert ': score 4.7), the flight performance inadequacy (5.5) and endurance largely insufficient (3.8).For all these areas, the minimum score of 6.0 was set based on the capabilities of the F/A-18 Helvetic currently operated. In short: the new aircraft which intends to equip Switzerland from 2016 to 3.1 billion francs, and which must remain in service until at least 2035, will be less efficient than the F/A-18, which came service in 1997 and regularly updated.In the documents in our possession, the Swiss Air Force explained that if the Gripen MS21 still had to be chosen, "it should at least make his flight evaluation in Switzerland [before deciding to buy it], to test its effectiveness real in this important mission. "Because during tests from Emmen in 2008, only the old model of the aircraft had been tested under real conditions. And the latter (the Gripen C / D) had a less powerful engine and much less equipment.Capabilities of future Gripen in terms of offensive air defense missions, exclusion of airspace or direct attack are also considered "average" by the Air Force (5.62).Including the range, the survivability or detection, which remain "weak". "The estimated effectiveness of MS21 Gripen remains insufficient [to accomplish these missions] with a good probability of success," the report said. The Eurofighter was rated 6.54 and 7.41 Rafale.For missions of defense against aircraft (DCA) as well as ground attack, the capabilities of the Gripen chosen by the Federal Council have again been deemed inadequate, with scores of 5.68 and 5.62. "The probability that the Gripen MS21 is unable to carry out missions DCA is significant, say the Swiss Air Force evaluators. And overall effectiveness of the Gripen MS21 is insufficient to win air superiority in the future threats, beyond 2015. "Lying by omission?In November, snippets of the report we cite were revealed by the Basler Zeitung, which had failed, however, to publish documents. Maurer was then scanned these reproaches the back of his hand, explaining that it was the other reports that had, for example those having evaluated other areas such as industrial holdings or military cooperation. "We circulated reports, added the minister of defense, but it's not really the prime cuts."Maurer has simply failed to mention that these reports evaluating the air quality, and we produce today, alone account for 60% of the total score of the evaluation, as confirmed by the spokesman of the Department defense, Silvia Steidle. Maurer also forgot to say that for most other assessment modules, the other two manufacturers competing were deemed equivalent or superior to Saab (17 -23.94%) Gripen, as confirmed by several sources who had access to final report.To top it off, the risk related to financial and technical modernization of the aircraft is described as "high" by the Air Force. Again, this assessment contradicts the statements of the DDPS, who remains confident that this risk was "manageable."Feeling sick at the baseAt Armasuisse and assessment teams Air Force, the disgust is sensitive since the choice of the Federal Council, based on financial criteria alone. Some even let go of the word "resignation". And is expected to be invited by parliamentarians to be explained. "If they ask me questions, I will answer them obviously very precisely," promises one of those people who wish to remain anonymous. How the Gripen was drafted for, ultimately, the stamp "meets the requirements of the company" and the overall score of 6.0 is still a mystery. "At the time of its delivery to the defense minister, the score of the military part of Gripen was insufficient, an official confirmed the assessment, also on condition of anonymity. Only the financial part allowed the Gripen to achieve the minimum score. "He too is eager to explain himself to MPs.Christian Democrat Jean-Rene Fournier is shocked to read these documents: "This is serious. If there are no new elements, I do not see how one could buy the Gripen. "The Valais propose to the Committee on Security Policy of the Council of States, with which he sits tomorrow at 10? Hours the parade of Bure, to join the sub-committee of the National to investigate how the assessment was conducted.Environmentalist Vaud Luc Recordon is tougher still reading reports of the Air Force: "It feels qu'Ueli Maurer wants us around. He offers to buy 2? CV to the price of a Porsche. "In that case, he concluded, much to stick to F/A-18.Faced with these criticisms, the DDPS refuses to comment on the findings of the evaluation. "Federal Councillor, he says in a written reply, informed on the results of the evaluation 30 November 2011, including notes and costs." He maintains that "the Gripen meets the military requirements ".