SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
As the Indian Air Force (IAF) seeks to bolster its fighter fleet with aircraft capable of addressing the complexities of modern warfare, adaptability and rapid technological upgrades have emerged as critical requirements.
Amidst ongoing deliberations over the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) program to acquire 114 new fighters, Annika Meijer, Head of Design for Saab’s Gripen, has highlighted how the Gripen’s modular design and agile architecture make it a compelling option for India. In a detailed exposition, Meijer explained how the Gripen’s innovative approach to software layering, hardware integration, and intellectual property (IP) protection aligns perfectly with the IAF’s need for a fighter that is adaptable, future-ready, and primed for seamless technological advancements.
At the heart of the Gripen’s appeal is its modular design philosophy, which Meijer describes as a “layered perspective of software and architecture.” This approach, known as the DIMA (Distributed Integrated Modular Avionics) architecture, allows the Gripen to segregate functions based on criticality, enabling rapid updates and customization without compromising safety or operational integrity.
Meijer explained, “The good thing about the DIMA architecture is that it is built on the categorization of functions. It’s a standard that makes it possible for software applications of different criticalities to run on the same computer.” For instance, a low-criticality tactical function, such as a new sensor integration, can coexist with a safety-critical system like the hydraulic or fuel-pumping system on the same hardware, but remain isolated to ensure safety. This partitioning allows Saab to update non-critical systems quickly, re-verifying only the affected application, thus reducing downtime and certification delays.
For safety-critical functions, such as fuel pumping, Meijer noted that a more stringent development and verification process is followed to meet certification requirements. “Everything is split up, but the processes will need to be adapted depending on the criticality that you have put on the functionality,” she said. This flexibility ensures that while critical updates take longer, non-critical enhancements—like integrating a new sensor or communication system—can be rolled out swiftly, keeping the aircraft at the cutting edge of technology.
One of the standout features of the Gripen’s design is its ability to accommodate customer-specific requirements through a “selectable layer” and “deletable layer” in its software architecture. Meijer elaborated, “India can select functions specific to them, like a comms system or data link, and we can implement those in the selectable layer. If there are specific weapons, sensors, or cryptos that need to be integrated, it’s very easy to update and test because we have this main track, but we can get different configurations in an agile way.”
This capability is particularly relevant for India, which has prioritized the integration of indigenous systems like the Astra BVRAAM, BrahMos-NG missile, and locally developed data links into its fighter fleet. The Gripen’s architecture ensures that such integrations can be performed without disrupting the aircraft’s core systems, offering the IAF a high degree of customization to meet its operational needs.
Moreover, the “deletable layer” provides a critical advantage in terms of IP protection—a key concern for India given its focus on safeguarding indigenous technologies. Meijer highlighted, “If you have a function that you want to keep in India and don’t want to share with anyone else, it’s your IP and your licenses. It will be deleted completely from the platform for everyone else, which means we have a safety perspective too.” This ensures that India-specific enhancements remain exclusive, preventing their proliferation to other operators and enhancing national security.
The Gripen’s architecture is designed for agility, a trait that Meijer believes gives it an edge in meeting the IAF’s need for rapid technological upgrades. “If we want to do an update of a tactical system that is non-critical, we can do it very quickly because it’s isolated,” she explained. “We can re-verify only that application and get it out to the customer very quickly.” This capability is a game-changer for the IAF, which often faces delays in integrating new systems due to lengthy certification processes associated with other platforms.
For example, integrating a new sensor or upgrading a tactical function on the Gripen can be achieved in a fraction of the time required for legacy fighters, where changes often necessitate re-verifying the entire avionics suite. The Gripen’s focus on modularity also simplifies verification and certification, as Meijer noted: “This classification of every function gives us the opportunity to focus on tactical functions and sensors, on customer wishes and mission capability, making the verification much easier and faster.”
The Gripen E/F, the latest variant of the fighter, is a contender in the IAF’s MRFA program, competing against heavyweights like the Rafale, F-15EX, and Su-35. While the Rafale has an edge due to its existing presence in the IAF fleet, the Gripen offers a compelling case through its lower lifecycle costs, modular design, and Saab’s willingness to transfer technology and establish local production under the “Make in India” initiative. Saab has previously offered to set up a full manufacturing line in India, including the production of Aero-engines and avionics, should the Gripen be selected.
Meijer’s insights into the Gripen’s design philosophy underscore its alignment with the IAF’s vision of a fighter built for complexity—one that can adapt to India’s unique operational environment and integrate future technologies seamlessly. The ability to protect India-specific IP, implement rapid upgrades, and maintain a high degree of agility positions the Gripen as a future-ready platform that can evolve alongside the IAF’s needs.
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