Ghost in the Circuit — A Three-Sided Story of a BVR Duel (Saab JAS 39E Gripen)
Modern air combat is as much a battle of systems as it is a contest of pilots. Networked sensors, electronic warfare suites, and beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles dominate the engagement envelope long before opposing fighters ever see each other. Yet, as advanced as these systems are, they remain vulnerable to technical failures at the most critical moments. Ghost in the Circuit tells the story of such an encounter, weaving together the perspectives of a Swedish Gripen pilot, the aircraft itself, and a Russian Su-30SM pilot. Through this multi-layered lens, the engagement becomes not just a duel between adversaries, but a test of machine resilience, pilot adaptability, and tactical improvisation under the pressure of seconds. 1. Characters: A. Pilot’s POV — Captain Erik “Falcon 1” Lindström (JAS 39E Gripen, Swedish Air Force) B. Aircraft’s POV — the Gripen’s own “perspective” as an advanced but fallible war machine, narrating its internal status and systems behavior. C. En...