Saab starts assembly of first pre-production Gripen E
Defence and security company Saab has started the assembly of the next generation Gripen, the Gripen E. First to be constructed is the front fuselage of the first pre-production test aircraft 39-8.Following a short and intense period of design using the latest tools and methods, through so called ‘Model Based Design’, the construction of the Gripen E begins with the manufacturing and assembly of all parts of the fuselage; the largest and most time consuming part of the airframe. These parts will then be joined together and assembled into a complete airframe. This is followed by an