The first Gripen E has been delivered to the Skaraborg Wing (F 7), the Swedish Air Force’s Operational Conversion Unit for the type.
The first Gripen E of the Swedish Air Force’s has been delivered to the Skaraborg Wing (F 7) at Satenas air base, near Lidköping, on Oct. 20, 2025. The unit is the main base for the Swedish Gripen fleet, and also acts as the Operational Conversion Unit for the type.
The aircraft is the first of 60 currently planned by the service. The handover of the first JAS 39 Gripen E was celebrated in a ceremony with representatives from the Ministry of Defense, the Armed Forces, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and Saab.
This marks an important milestone in the development of the Swedish defense. The result of long-term cooperation and close collaboration between the Armed Forces, FMV and Swedish industry. Gripen E strengthens our national defense capability to meet future threats together with allies. Continue 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 release by the Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten) highlighted that the “Gripen E is not just an upgrade of previous versions but in many respects a completely new aircraft type.” The Gripen has in fact been rebuilt to adapt to the challenges of the mutated operational scenarios which could present to the military in the future.
It is a completely new system – built to meet future demands for survivability, range, sensors and collaboration. It is the result of Swedish engineering and innovation with a clear focus on operational effectiveness.
Mattias Ottis, Commander Skaraborg Air Flotilla
The Försvarsmakten explained that it needed “to find a way to operate in […] a ‘contested environment’”, saying that in the past an aircraft “could take off and land in a controlled environment,” but today’s having control of an area is not as straightforward.
Today, even when the aircraft takes off, we find ourselves in an environment that is uncertain, hence the need to develop a new and more capable combat aircraft system.
Försvarsmakten
In order to face the modern battlespace’s challenges, the Gripen E has been equipped with new sensors, a new radar and a new communication system, for better and longer-range communication. The aircraft has also new self-protection systems, which the press release says would also protect against interference – possibly referring to jamming, as well as a longer operating range and a heavier payload.
Gripen C vs Gripen E
The Swedish Armed Forces explained that the Gripen E took over all the good characteristics of the older Gripen C and “is just as easy to fly and maneuver.” The real difference between the two is described as the quantity of the information presented to the pilot and how they make decisions while in flight.
Another difference is how the aircraft will be fielded, as the older Gripen completely replaced the JAS 37 Viggen, while the Gripen C will be retained as the Gripen E is introduced. The Gripen E will gradually take over the roles of the older type.
However, the press release notes that “over a relatively long period of time, the Air Force must be able to both use and develop two combat aircraft in parallel.” This could possibly be not only a reference to the two Gripen variants in service today, but also to the possibility of a next generation fighter to be introduced.
In fact, Saab, the manufacturer of the Gripen, has received an extension order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to continue the conceptual studies for future fighter systems originally launched in March 2024. The company says this includes “conceptual studies of manned and unmanned solutions in a system of systems perspective, and technology development and demonstrators.”
The Gripen E/F
The Gripen E is a significantly modernized variant of Sweden’s indigenously produced Gripen fighter jet. Powered by the powerful GE F414G engine – providing 20% more thrust than the Gripen C’s RM12 engine, it is also equipped with a brand-new AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar, IRST (Infrared Search and Track) system, and EW (Electronic Warfare) systems.
With 10 hardpoints for carrying various munitions, it is almost an entirely new platform, featuring a new avionics architecture with data-fusion capabilities, a wide-area cockpit display, and open mission systems. Externally, the aircraft is much similar to its predecessors, with the IRST in front of the cockpit and the wingtip rails being the main differentiators.
As part of the Gripen E/F series, there is also a project called Gripen Maritime. This project is intended as a future carrier-based fighter for both STOBAR (Short Take Off Barrier Arrested Landing) and CATOBAR (Catapult Assisted Take Off Barrier Arrested Landing) operations.
Thailand recently became the fourth nation to officially choose the new Gripen variant, after Sweden, Brazil, and Colombia. Compared to the original Gripen, the E/F has had relatively slow sales, with 60 jets acquired by Sweden, 36 by Brazil, up to 24 by Colombia and 12 by Thailand. Peru is also in talks to acquire the jet.
