Silent Hand – A Case Study in Networked Air Superiority Saab JAS 39E Gripens
In the evolving landscape of modern aerial warfare, victory is often determined not by who fires first, but by who remains unseen the longest. Silent Hand is a prime example of a networked, multi-sensor engagement in which information dominance and tactical coordination overshadowed brute force. The encounter between the Nordic Rapid Reaction Wing’s JAS 39E Gripens and the Eastern Coalition Air Guard’s Su-30SMs demonstrated the potency of combining radar silence, passive sensors, and secure datalink technology to execute a “silent kill.” By leveraging cooperative targeting, the Gripens were able to engage and destroy their opponents without ever betraying the presence of the shooter, reflecting a shift in air combat toward stealth through emissions control rather than solely radar cross-section reduction. 1. Tensions at the Edge By late autumn, the Nordic Rapid Reaction Wing (NRRW) had been conducting daily patrols along the eastern border of the Baltic Contested Air Zone. ...