The primary Gripen E has been delivered to the Skaraborg Wing (F 7), the Swedish Air Pressure’s Operational Conversion Unit for the kind.
The primary Gripen E of the Swedish Air Pressure’s has been delivered to the Skaraborg Wing (F 7) at Satenas air base, close to Lidköping, on Oct. 20, 2025. The unit is the principle base for the Swedish Gripen fleet, and likewise acts because the Operational Conversion Unit for the kind.
The plane is the primary of 60 at the moment deliberate by the service. The handover of the primary JAS 39 Gripen E was celebrated in a ceremony with representatives from the Ministry of Protection, the Armed Forces, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and Saab.
This marks an necessary milestone within the growth of the Swedish protection. The results of long-term cooperation and shut collaboration between the Armed Forces, FMV and Swedish business. Gripen E strengthens our nationwide protection functionality to satisfy future threats along with allies. Proceed to make us proud.
Michael Claesson, Commander-in-Chief
På plats vid F7 Såtenäs där Försvarsmakten idag tar emot den första av 60 JAS Gripen E. Det är en viktig dag för flygvapnet och det svenska försvaret. Gripen E är ett exempel på svensk teknologisk framkant och är ett modernt stridsflyg som i allt väsentligt är helt nytt. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/Bse70Hb5DX
— Pål Jonson (@PlJonson) October 20, 2025
Reception of the Gripen E
The press launch by the Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten) highlighted that the “Gripen E is not only an improve of earlier variations however in lots of respects a very new plane kind.” The Gripen has in reality been rebuilt to adapt to the challenges of the mutated operational situations which may current to the army sooner or later.
It’s a utterly new system – constructed to satisfy future calls for for survivability, vary, sensors and collaboration. It’s the results of Swedish engineering and innovation with a transparent deal with operational effectiveness.
Mattias Ottis, Commander Skaraborg Air Flotilla
The Försvarsmakten defined that it wanted “to discover a method to function in […] a ‘contested atmosphere’”, saying that previously an plane “may take off and land in a managed atmosphere,” however in the present day’s having management of an space just isn’t as easy.
At present, even when the plane takes off, we discover ourselves in an atmosphere that’s unsure, therefore the necessity to develop a brand new and extra succesful fight plane system.
Försvarsmakten
With a view to face the trendy battlespace’s challenges, the Gripen E has been outfitted with new sensors, a brand new radar and a brand new communication system, for higher and longer-range communication. The plane has additionally new self-protection programs, which the press launch says would additionally shield in opposition to interference – presumably referring to jamming, in addition to an extended working vary and a heavier payload.
Gripen C vs Gripen E
The Swedish Armed Forces defined that the Gripen E took over all the great traits of the older Gripen C and “is simply as straightforward to fly and maneuver.” The true distinction between the 2 is described as the amount of the knowledge offered to the pilot and the way they make selections whereas in flight.
One other distinction is how the plane will probably be fielded, because the older Gripen utterly changed the JAS 37 Viggen, whereas the Gripen C will probably be retained because the Gripen E is launched. The Gripen E will step by step take over the roles of the older kind.
Nonetheless, the press launch notes that “over a comparatively lengthy time period, the Air Pressure should have the ability to each use and develop two fight plane in parallel.” This might presumably be not solely a reference to the 2 Gripen variants in service in the present day, but additionally to the opportunity of a subsequent technology fighter to be launched.
The truth is, Saab, the producer of the Gripen, has obtained an extension order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to proceed the conceptual research for future fighter programs initially launched in March 2024. The corporate says this contains “conceptual research of manned and unmanned options in a system of programs perspective, and know-how growth and demonstrators.”
The Gripen E/F
The Gripen E is a considerably modernized variant of Sweden’s indigenously produced Gripen fighter jet. Powered by the highly effective GE F414G engine – offering 20% extra thrust than the Gripen C’s RM12 engine, additionally it is outfitted with a brand-new AESA (Lively Electronically Scanned Array) radar, IRST (Infrared Search and Monitor) system, and EW (Digital Warfare) programs.
With 10 hardpoints for carrying varied munitions, it’s virtually a completely new platform, that includes a brand new avionics structure with data-fusion capabilities, a wide-area cockpit show, and open mission programs. Externally, the plane is far much like its predecessors, with the IRST in entrance of the cockpit and the wingtip rails being the principle differentiators.
As a part of the Gripen E/F collection, there may be additionally a challenge known as Gripen Maritime. This challenge is meant as a future carrier-based fighter for each STOBAR (Brief Take Off Barrier Arrested Touchdown) and CATOBAR (Catapult Assisted Take Off Barrier Arrested Touchdown) operations.
Thailand lately turned the fourth nation to formally select the brand new Gripen variant, after Sweden, Brazil, and Colombia. In comparison with the unique Gripen, the E/F has had comparatively sluggish gross sales, with 60 jets acquired by Sweden, 36 by Brazil, as much as 24 by Colombia and 12 by Thailand. Peru can be in talks to amass the jet.
