JAS 39 Gripen

The JAS 39 Gripen is a light single-engine multirole fighter developed by Sweden’s Saab. The C (single-seat) and D (two-seat) versions have been in service since the mid-2000s, while the new-generation E/F, with a more powerful engine, an AESA radar and ten hardpoints, has been entering service since 2025. It is flown by Sweden, Czechia, Hungary, South Africa, Thailand and Brazil, and has been ordered by Colombia and Ukraine.

Sweden is the main user. The Air Force flies the Gripen C/D – about 94 aircraft (71 C and 23 D) in 2026, according to FlightGlobal. The first Gripen E was accepted by the Air Force on 20 October 2025 at Såtenäs (F 7), the first of 60 on order; deliveries are due to continue until 2030. The C/D is to remain in service until around 2035.

Hungary chose the Gripen in 2001: in December 2001 FMV (the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration) and the Hungarian government concluded a contract for 14 Gripen C/D, and the lease agreement was signed in February 2003 – 12 single-seat C and 2 two-seat D, all new-build. The first aircraft landed at Kecskemét Air Base on 21 March 2006. In early 2012 the contract was amended and the lease extended by ten years, to 2026; the amendment also added training. According to the Swedish government in February 2024, the lease-purchase aircraft pass into Hungarian ownership in early 2026. On 23 February 2024 in Budapest the Hungarian Ministry of Defence and FMV signed an amendment for four more new Gripen C, bought outright, with Sweden providing support and logistics for 2026–2036. The first two new aircraft landed at Kecskemét on 29 April 2026 and were handed over the next day; on 24 June 2026 Saab announced that the last two had arrived, completing deliveries under the amendment. Hungary thus operates 18 Gripen C/D – 16 C and 2 D – with the 101st Aviation Wing at Kecskemét (the new aircraft with the 101/1 Tactical Fighter Squadron). The fleet has been upgraded to the MS20 Block 2 standard with Meteor and IRIS-T missiles and GBU-49 bombs, and Hungarian Gripens have repeatedly flown NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission. In April 2024 the Hungarian Air Force marked 30,000 flying hours on the Gripen.

Czechia leases 14 Gripen (12 C and 2 D) under a contract of 14 June 2004; the first six arrived at Čáslav Air Base on 18 April 2005. The lease has been extended, and on 2 September 2025 the Ministry of Defence signed a new contract for 12 aircraft for 2027–2035, worth about CZK 16.6 billion and including support and training. The Gripens are to remain until the 24 F-35A on order reach full operational capability around 2035.

South Africa bought 26 Gripen (17 C and 9 D), flown by 2 Squadron at Makhado Air Force Base. In 2021 the whole fleet was grounded after its support contracts lapsed. A R532 million Saab contract for 2022–2025 kept only 13 aircraft airworthy, with the rest in storage; one was written off after a ground incident. Whether the contract was renewed after August 2025 is unclear.

Thailand received 12 Gripen C/D (8 C and 4 D) for Wing 7 at Surat Thani; one Gripen C was lost in a crash on 14 January 2017. On 26 July 2025 Thai Gripens flew the type’s first combat missions, striking Cambodian artillery positions during the border conflict. On 25 August 2025 Thailand signed for the first four Gripen E/F (3 E and 1 F) of a planned 12, with deliveries by 2030; funding for the remaining eight has not yet been approved.

Brazil ordered 36 Gripen E/F (28 E and 8 F), designated F-39E/F, in 2014, with an option to increase the order by 25%. Deliveries began in 2020; by June 2026 eleven aircraft had been handed over, standing alert at Anápolis Air Base. Embraer assembles part of the fleet at Gavião Peixoto – the first Brazilian-built Gripen E was unveiled in March 2026 and first flew on 6 October 2026. In June 2026 Brazil announced it wants 20 more Gripen E, but no contract has been signed.

Colombia signed a contract on 15 November 2025 for 17 Gripen E/F (15 E and 2 F) worth EUR 3.1 billion, including weapons, training and services, with deliveries in 2026–2032. The aircraft replace the Kfir fleet.

Ukraine signed an intergovernmental agreement on 30 June 2026 for 16 new Gripen E worth about SEK 24.6 billion, with deliveries in 2029–2030. Sweden also plans to donate 16 used Gripen C/D, with deliveries from early 2027; the separate agreement for them had not been confirmed as of November 2026.