Proposal for a navalized Gripen

[james84]

I was reading on an Italian magazine I got at the airport yesterday that a navalizaed version of the Gripen has been proposed to Brazil and India, which are looking for aircrafts to deploy on their "new" carriers (Brazil is using the former French carrier Foch, India is awaiting delivery of a former Russian one and has already got some MiG-29K).
The SAAB proposal features CATOBAR and STOBAR capabilities and will have a new reinforced gear and arresting hook, plus some structural reinforcements for an increase in weight of no more than 400kgs.
The total weight would be 7500-8000kgs, a MTOW of 16500kgs and a maximum landing weight of 11500.
It should not need repliable wings due to its small dimensions.

[Firebird]

In which case BAe is probably trying to suggest to the MOD that its a good idea not to put all their eggs in the F-35 basket.