David Oliver – Akaer, the leading Brazilian Strategic Defence Company, designed and developed a new rear fuselage for Gripen E/F fighter aircraft for the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) under contract to Embraer.
The new project takes advantage of the technology and experience developed by Saab in the previous Gripen versions, redesigning the fuselage from basic concept up to the detail design, in order to fulfil the new flight requirements.
Akaer has developed an innovative structural architecture to meet the new fighter requirements with a more powerful engine, new avionics, new features and enhanced durability. To achieve that, a new engine attachment, lateral panels, engine bay door and main landing gear doors were developed. Those changes allowed the new structures to meet the severe thermal, flight, landing and take-off loads, typical of supersonics fighter aircraft.
The company also adopted new concepts in other structures. The engine bay door presented a different concept and material compared to the previous Gripen versions, which resulted in significant improvements in weight, resistance and durability.
The Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) was also redesigned to meet the fighter’s requirements in terms of high temperatures and vibrations.
Load tests of the new Akaer designed rear fuselage conducted at Linkoping in Sweden simulated all the aircraft’s operational manoeuvres and applies a 50 percent higher load factor to the aircraft structure in order to meet certification requirements.
In addition to its work with Embraer on both the Gripen and KC-390, Akaer has been contracted to design a concept for a new ground attack/air support, ISR, airborne C2 and AAR aircraft for an unnamed Middle East customer.
The Mosquito would be a twin-boom, twin-turboprop powered two-seat aircraft with a 10-hour endurance baring more than a passing resemblance to the OV-10 Bronco using the production techniques and structures.
The model of the Mosquito shown at LAAD was carrying a variety of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons mounted on wingtip, under-wing and under-fuselage hardpoints.
by David Oliver
