Gripens on Air Gunnery

On their first air-to-ground gunnery in 2013, the fighter pilots of Kecskemét practiced close
air support (CAS) of the land forces on the range of Hajmáskér.

Maj. Gergely Gróf, the chief of the combat deployment department at the HDF
59th ‘Szentgyörgyi Dezső’ Air Base told us that the Gripens had fired PELE (Penetrator
with Enhanced Lateral Effect) rounds from 27 mm Mauser BK autocannon. This weapon is
excellently suitable for engaging targets in air-to-air and air-to-ground combat from distances
of 1-3 kilometers, has an outstanding firing accuracy and based on the pilots’ experience, it
qualifies as a precision weapon.

The Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) of the HDF 86th Szolnok Helicopter Base
provided terminal attack guidance for the fighter aircraft of Kecskemét, which engaged the
targets in a dive started at an altitude of 3000 meters.

All airmen of the quick reaction alert (QRA) duty service executed the air gunnery with three
Gripens. Every year the fighter pilots take part in two or three such live fire exercises which
form an integral part of their training.

Photo: Lt.-Col. (MD) Dr. István Toperczer