SAAB selected a new variant of the General Electric F414 engine for its Gripen Aircraft Demonstrator Program. GE Aviation and Volvo Aero Corporation will be working collaboratively on the new F414G fighter engine.
Two F414 Engines are currently being delivered for flight-test and customer demonstration evaluations planned for 2008-2010.
The F414G uses a similar architecture to the popular F414-GE-400 engine powering the F/A-18 Super Hornet, with minor changes to the alternator for added aircraft power, and modified Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC) software for enhanced single-engine operation. The F414 engine is capable of producing more than 22,000 pounds (96 kN) of thrust.
The Demonstrator programme includes the development of a new test-flying platform, the Gripen Demo, which complements the successful Gripen C/D version currently being delivered to customers worldwide.