Saab Gripen

The Saab Gripen is a Swedish family of light, single-engine supersonic multirole fighter aircraft made by Saab AB.

The Saab Gripen is a Swedish family of light, single-engine supersonic multirole fighter aircraft made by Saab AB. It is designed for air-to-air, air-to-ground, and reconnaissance missions, with later variants offering NATO interoperability and modern sensors and weapons integration.

Development and entry into service

Saab developed the Gripen under a 1982 contract from Sweden to replace the Saab 37 Viggen and Saab 35 Draken in Swedish service. The prototype first flew on 9 December 1988, and the aircraft entered Swedish service in 1996.

Design and capabilities

The Gripen is a light, single-engine supersonic multirole fighter with a delta wing and canard configuration. It uses relaxed stability and fly-by-wire flight controls, which contribute to high agility and low operating cost. The aircraft is designed for air superiority, strike, and reconnaissance missions.

Variants

The original family includes the single-seat A and two-seat B models, followed by the NATO-interoperable C and D models. The newer E/F generation incorporates the GE F414G engine, increased fuel capacity, and additional weapons stations, along with modern sensors and avionics. The Gripen E series has greater range and payload compared with earlier versions.

Operational use and exports

The Gripen has served with the Swedish Air Force since 1996 and has been exported to several other countries. Later variants were designed to support multinational operations and compatibility with NATO systems. As of 2025, more than 280 Gripens of all models had been delivered. Saab has marketed the Gripen in Canada as part of fighter procurement discussions and industry outreach.