Under this agreement, signed at the Farnborough International Airshow, Oxley will collaborate with Saab on the new Gripen E aircraft programme, creating the most competitive and reliable external aircraft lighting systems solutions available while offering enhanced functionality and increased optical performance.
Oxley has already been working with Saab to provide the complete suite of external LED-based lighting systems on board the C and D variations of the multi-role JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft.
The lighting suite includes high-intensity landing and taxi lights, wing tip, tail, and position lights including the control electronics for enhanced optical mode functionality.
These were all designed to offer substantial savings in terms of ownership cost through much improved reliability and reduced maintenance requirements.
In addition, for the Gripen E aircraft, Oxley is currently utilising leading LED technology to develop a bespoke, air-to-air refuelling lighting system and a new anti-collision light. Oxley LED lights are designed to deliver sustained improved performance in the most arduous conditions and offer significant through-life cost benefits to the operators while being fully integrated within the airframe of the aircraft.
Mean Time Between Failure is in excess of 13,000 hours for the landing light and 14,000 hours for the taxi light, compared to halogen units that typically require replacement after as little as 2.5 hours of service in these environments. These lights also exceed current operational requirements as the NVG friendly landing light delivers a peak intensity greater than 200,000cd, while the taxi light has a peak intensity of more than 27,000cd.
Commenting on this development, Oxley Group CEO Martin Blakstad said: "We are delighted to have been selected by Saab and to sign this business agreement to provide leading-edge, high performance, cost-effective lighting systems.
"This agreement, based on both of our companies’ proven and innovative technologies, reflects our long-term strategic relationship with Saab, both as a key customer and as a product technology development partner."