STOCKHOLM — Saab has highlighted the electronic warfare capabilities of its Gripen E/F fighter, stating that the aircraft can detect, geolocate, and electronically suppress radars operating in the S-band and L-band frequency ranges. These lower-frequency bands are commonly associated with early-warning and anti-stealth radar systems.
According to Saab, this capability is provided by the Arexis Electronic Attack Jammer Pod (EAJP) rather than relying solely on the Gripen E's integrated Multi-Functional System – Electronic Warfare (MFS-EW) suite. The external pod is designed for electronic attack and escort missions, extending the aircraft's electronic warfare capabilities beyond self-protection.
Arexis Pod Designed for Electronic Attack Missions
The Arexis escort jammer pod is based on the same electronic warfare architecture as the Gripen E's onboard MFS-EW system but is optimized for dedicated electronic attack operations. Saab developed the pod to provide higher output power and broader coverage against lower-frequency radar systems used in modern integrated air defense networks.
The pod is equipped with Gallium Nitride (GaN)-based Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) antennas located in its forward and rear sections. These antennas are designed to operate across the L-band and S-band frequencies, allowing the system to engage radar threats commonly used for long-range surveillance and the detection of low-observable aircraft.
DRFM and Direction Finding Support Radar Suppression
The Arexis pod combines Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) technology with interferometric direction finding (DF) to detect, identify, locate, and electronically counter hostile radar emitters.
DRFM technology enables the system to capture incoming radar signals, process them, and transmit modified signals back to the radar. This supports a range of electronic attack techniques, including deceptive jamming and the generation of false targets. Interferometric direction finding provides precise geolocation of radar emitters, helping identify the location of enemy air defense systems during operations.
Complementing the Gripen E's Integrated MFS-EW Suite
The Gripen E's internal MFS-EW system remains responsible for the aircraft's core electronic warfare functions, including electronic support, electronic protection, and self-defense. The system uses multiple distributed antennas around the aircraft to provide wide-area threat detection and integrates with the fighter's AESA radar, Infrared Search and Track (IRST) system, and other onboard sensors through sensor fusion.
The addition of the Arexis pod expands these capabilities by providing a dedicated electronic attack solution for missions that require suppression of enemy radar systems operating at lower frequencies.
Supporting Escort and SEAD Operations
Saab says the Arexis pod is specifically intended for escort and Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) missions. During these operations, an aircraft equipped with the pod can accompany strike packages, detect hostile radar emitters, determine their location, and electronically disrupt their operation during both the ingress and egress phases of a mission.
By suppressing or degrading enemy radar performance, the system is intended to improve the survivability of friendly aircraft operating in contested airspace while supporting broader air operations.
Continued Focus on Electronic Warfare
Electronic warfare remains a major area of development for the Gripen E/F program. Saab has continued to expand the Arexis family with both internal and externally mounted solutions designed to address evolving radar and air defense threats.
While the company has outlined the system's design and intended operational role, detailed performance data from real-world operational environments has not been publicly released. Saab has stated that the Arexis architecture is designed to address current and future threat environments and provide advanced electronic attack capabilities alongside the Gripen E/F's multi-role mission profile.
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