Saab JAS 39 Gripen

The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a light, single-engine, supersonic multirole fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace and defense company Saab AB. It features a delta wing and canard configuration with a relaxed stability design and fly-by-wire flight controls. Later models are fully NATO interoperable, and by 2020, more than 271 Gripens of all models, A–F, had been delivered. In 1979, the Swedish government initiated development studies for a versatile aircraft capable of fighter, attack, and reconnaissance roles, known as “JAS” to replace the Saab 35 Draken and 37 Viggen in the Swedish Air Force. Saab’s new design was selected and developed into the JAS 39, with the first flight occurring in 1988 and the first serial production airplane delivered in 1993. It entered service with the Swedish Air Force in 1996, and upgraded variants with advanced avionics and longer mission capabilities began entering service in 2003.

To market the aircraft internationally, Saab formed partnerships with overseas aerospace companies. Early models achieved moderate success on the export market, with sales to countries in Central Europe, South Africa, and Southeast Asia. Although there were suspicions of bribery in some procurements, Swedish authorities closed the investigation in 2009. A major redesign of the Gripen series, initially referred to as Gripen NG (Next Generation) or Super JAS, and now designated JAS 39E/F Gripen, began deliveries to the Swedish and Brazilian Air Forces in 2019. Changes from the JAS C to JAS E include a larger fuselage, a more powerful engine, increased weapons payload capability, and new cockpit, avionics architecture, and electronic warfare system improvements.

In the late 1970s, Sweden sought to replace its aging Saab 35 Draken and Saab 37 Viggen. The Swedish Air Force required an affordable Mach 2 aircraft with good short-field performance for a defensive dispersed basing plan in the event of invasion, which included rudimentary runways as part of the Bas 90 system. The goal was for the new aircraft to be smaller than the Viggen while equaling or improving its payload-range characteristics. Several foreign designs were studied, including the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, and the Dassault Mirage 2000. Ultimately, the Swedish government opted for a new fighter to be developed by Saab. In 1979, the government began a study calling for a versatile platform capable of “JAS”, indicating a multirole fighter aircraft. Several Saab designs were reviewed, and the most promising was recommended to the government. In 1980, a joint venture was established by Saab and other companies to develop the preferred aircraft, which was a single-engine, lightweight single-seater, embracing fly-by-wire technology and an aerodynamically unstable design. The Volvo-Flygmotor RM12 engine, a license-built derivative of the General Electric F404−400, was selected. On 30 June 1982, with approval from the Riksdag, contracts were issued to Saab, covering prototypes and production aircraft. By January 1983, a Viggen was converted to a flying test aircraft for the JAS 39’s intended avionics. The JAS 39 received the name Gripen (griffin) via a public competition, which is the heraldry on Saab’s logo.

Saab rolled out the first Gripen on 26 April 1987, marking the company’s 50th anniversary. The first flight was delayed by 18 months due to issues with the flight control system, but on 9 December 1988, the first prototype took its maiden flight. During testing, concerns about the aircraft’s avionics and relaxed stability design emerged, leading to a crash in February 1989. Software modifications were introduced, and flight testing resumed 15 months later. In August 1993, another accident occurred during an aerial display, resulting in further investigations and flaw corrections. The first order included an option for more aircraft, which was exercised in 1992. Subsequent batches included upgraded variants with NATO compatibility for exports, more powerful avionics, in-flight refueling capability, and an on-board oxygen-generating system for longer missions.

During the 1995 Paris Air Show, Saab and British Aerospace announced the formation of a joint venture to adapt, manufacture, market, and support Gripen worldwide. This cooperation was extended in 2001 with the formation of Gripen International to promote export sales. Saab took full responsibility for marketing and export orders of the Gripen in 2004. In June 2011, Saab announced evidence of corruption by BAE Systems, including money laundering in South Africa. Norway signed a joint-development agreement with Saab in 2007, and Saab also entered an agreement with Thales Norway A/S for communications systems development. The US expressed concern over Norway and Sweden’s cooperation on the Gripen. In 2007, Gripen International signed a deal with Danish technology supplier Terma A/S for an Industrial Co-operation programme, partly dependent on Denmark procuring the Gripen, but Denmark later chose the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Developing an advanced multi-role fighter was a major undertaking for Sweden, and the predecessor 37 Viggen had been criticized for occupying too much of Sweden’s military budget. The Gripen project passed in the Riksdag by a narrow margin, with demands for more studies. The project was subjected to a predetermined fixed-price contract, which was later criticized as unrealistic due to cost overruns. After the 1989 and 1993 crashes, the Gripen risked a loss of credibility, and media elements called for greater public accountability. The Conservative government endorsed the project, but reports of bribery and corruption in marketing efforts tarnished the Gripen’s international reputation. The Gripen’s cost has been a subject of attention, with Saab disputing cost calculations and emphasizing its low operational cost compared to other modern fighters. The Swedish Ministry of Defense estimated the cost of the full system at SEK 90 billion over several decades, with the operating costs taking a larger part of the total budget.

A two-seat aircraft, designated “Gripen Demo”, was ordered in 2007 as a testbed for various upgrades, including a new engine, increased takeoff weight, and internal fuel capacity. The Gripen Demo’s maiden flight was in 2008, and it served as a basis for the Gripen E/F. Saab studied a carrier-capable variant in response to India’s request for information on a carrier-based aircraft, and Brazil may also require new carrier aircraft. Saab explored an optionally manned Gripen E capable of unmanned operations, and the Brazilian Navy expressed interest in a carrier-based Gripen. In 2010, Sweden awarded Saab a contract to improve the Gripen’s radar and equipment. Sweden planned to order the Gripen NG, designated JAS 39E/F, and assembly began on the first pre-production Gripen E in 2013. The first Gripen E was rolled out in 2016, and its first flight was completed in 2017. By 2021, the first Gripen Es were ready for delivery to the Swedish and Brazilian air forces.

The Gripen is a multirole fighter aircraft, intended as a lightweight and agile aerial platform with advanced, highly adaptable avionics. It has canard control surfaces that contribute a positive lift force at all speeds, and digital fly-by-wire flight controls to maintain stability. The Gripen was designed for low maintenance, with modular systems to reduce operating costs and increase reliability. Saab emphasizes technology-transfer agreements and industrial partnerships with export customers, allowing for customization and local supplier involvement. The Gripen’s avionics are fully integrated, allowing software updates to increase performance and operational roles. It features a “sensor fusion” capability and an advanced data link, and the PS-05/A pulse-Doppler radar is capable of locating and identifying targets up to 120 km away. The future Gripen E/F will use a new AESA radar and integrate the Skyward-G IRST sensor.

The Gripen’s cockpit is equipped with a Hands On Throttle-And-Stick control principle, and the EP-17 cockpit display system provides situational awareness and reduces pilot workload. The Gripen includes interchangeable multi-function displays and a Helmet Mounted Display System for target cueing and sensor data. All in-service Gripens are powered by a Volvo RM12 turbofan engine, with a record of reliability and no engine-related failures. The JAS 39E and F variants will adopt the F414G powerplant, enabling supercruise capabilities. The Gripen is compatible with various armaments and equipment, including air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, and features an advanced electronic warfare suite. Saab describes the Gripen as a “swing-role aircraft”, capable of switching roles at the push of a button. The Gripen is equipped for long-range missions and has a low operational cost compared to its competitors. In 2024, a study was begun to explore the Gripen’s potential to launch a small satellite into low earth orbit.