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What are the main specifications of the Gripen's Raven ES-05 radar?
Executive summary
The Raven ES‑05 is an X‑band AESA fire‑control radar developed by Selex/Leonardo for the Gripen E/F; its headline capability is a roll‑repositionable AESA antenna that gives a very wide field of regard (commonly reported as ±100°) to support long‑range missile launches and situational awareness [1] [2]. Suppliers and reporting emphasize improved reliability, multi‑target tracking, and integration into the Gripen NG sensor suite [3] [4].
1. What the Raven ES‑05 is — a modular AESA fire‑control sensor
Leonardo/Selex describe the ES‑05 Raven as a high‑performance Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) fire‑control radar designed with Saab for the Gripen NG/Future Gripen, building on decades of fire‑control radar experience and intended as the Gripen E/F’s primary multi‑role sensor [3] [5]. Industry web pages and trade reporting repeat that it replaces the older PS‑05/A in the next‑generation Gripen [6] [1].
2. The standout feature — a roll‑repositionable antenna and very wide field of regard
Multiple independent reports and Leonardo product pages stress an “innovative roll‑repositionable AESA antenna” that expands the radar’s field of regard to roughly ±100°, enabling the aircraft to scan far to the sides of the nose and to turn away after missile launch while still maintaining missile datalinks and situational awareness [2] [1] [4]. Popular commentary quantified the extra side scan as about 40° each side in earlier descriptions of the repositioner [7].
3. Multi‑function roles claimed — air, surface, tracking and survivability
Manufacturer material and trade reporting list the Raven as a multi‑function fire‑control radar capable of long‑range detection, multi‑target tracking and integration with other sensors (IRST, IFF) as part of a fused sensor suite to improve platform survivability and engagement options [3] [5] [4]. Flight Global and Airforce‑Technology coverage also link the radar’s enhanced range and modes to enabling full employment of long‑range missiles such as AMRAAM and Meteor [8] [1].
4. Technology and logistics — AESA benefits, transmit/receive modules and lifecycle
Leonardo emphasizes AESA transmit/receive module technology as improving availability and reducing lifecycle cost compared with mechanically scanned radars; the ES‑05 is treated as modular and designed for manufacturability and maintainability in collaboration with Saab [3] [9]. Earlier public reporting noted Selex/Finmeccanica expected to produce sets for Gripen NG and potential retrofits [1].
5. Range and performance claims — what sources say and what they don’t
Sources assert improved detection and tracking ranges versus legacy PS‑05/A configurations and cite the wider field of regard as enabling long‑range missile envelopes [8] [1]. However, the provided material does not publish specific, independently verified detection‑range numbers (for example exact radar horizon ranges against given RCS targets) in the snippets provided; available sources do not mention precise numerical detection ranges or radar cross‑section performance curves for Raven ES‑05 (not found in current reporting).
6. Integration context — part of a sensor suite on Gripen E/F
The Raven ES‑05 is one component of a sensor suite that often includes Skyward‑G IRST and IFF systems for passive detection and identification; suppliers and reporting present the Raven as central to the Gripen E’s networked, sensor‑fusion concept [5] [4]. Flight Global and other trade outlets also note C/D‑series Gripen would need structural/power/cooling changes to accept AESA radars, reinforcing that Raven was targeted primarily at the Gripen NG/E platform [8].
7. Sources, disagreements and limitations
Manufacturer and vendor sources (Leonardo, AeroExpo, Leonardo PDF) uniformly present ES‑05’s repositioner and ±100° field of regard as key selling points and highlight AESA reliability and lower lifecycle costs [3] [2] [9]. Independent trade reporting (Flight Global; Airforce‑Technology) repeats these capabilities and links them to operational benefits [8] [1]. Popular press and commentary (Jalopnik) extrapolate tactical advantages—such as hiding the aircraft while guiding long‑range missiles—based on the repositioner; those operational inferences are plausible but are opinionated and not the same as manufacturer performance data [7]. Precise technical performance metrics (exact module count, power output, bandwidth, supported modes, or verified detection ranges under fixed conditions) are not supplied in the material at hand; available sources do not mention those detailed specifications (not found in current reporting).
8. Bottom line for readers and potential buyers
Raven ES‑05’s defining technical selling point in the cited reporting is the roll‑repositionable AESA that dramatically widens the radar’s field of regard (±100°), enabling enhanced situational awareness and new engagement tactics; suppliers also stress AESA reliability and life‑cycle savings [2] [1] [3]. For exact, quantitative performance metrics (detection ranges against specific signatures, module counts, GaN vs GaAs T/R details), consult the manufacturer’s full technical datasheet or independent test reports — those specifics are not present in the provided sources (not found in current reporting).