Even as its sales have ended to Hungary, Swedish Gripen manufacturer Saab faces booming markets for the aircraft in Asia and Latin America.

NATO member Hungary has received its final two Swedish-made multirole jet fighters. Aerospace and defense firm Saab, the manufacturer of the Gripen, announced that the last pair of fighters had arrived this week at Hungary’s Kecskemét Air Base. It marked the completion of the contract between the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) and the Hungarian Ministry of Defense that was finalized in January 2024.

“We are proud of the Hungarian Air Force, which has now operated Gripen fighters for 20 years. Thanks to the support and service contract, the Hungarian Gripen fleet will maintain high availability and be continuously upgraded to fulfill all mission requirements for at least a decade ahead,” said Lars Tossman, senior vice president and head of Saab business area Aeronautics. 

With this delivery, the Hungarian Air Force (HuAF) now operates 16 single-seat Gripen C models and two twin-seat Gripen D aircraft. The fighters will serve to defend the airspace of Hungary and be deployed to support NATO missions.

The Gripen C aircraft are part of the latest MS20 Block 2, which were “retrofitted to the HuAF’s existing fleet,” according to international military analyst firm Janes. The fighter jet features key upgrades, including the Saab PS-05/A Mk4 radar, which enhances the air-to-air target tracking range and overall performance, as well as new Link 16 datalink capabilities.

The new fighters have also been equipped with the NATO Mode 5 standard identification “friend-or-foe” (IFF) platform.

About the JAS 39 Gripen

• Year Introduced: 1996 (A); 2019 (E)
• Number Built: ~300
• Length: 14.9 m (48 ft 11 in) JAS 39C/E / 15.6 m (51 ft) JAS 39D/F
• Wingspan: ~8.4 m (27 ft 6 in)
• Weight (MTOW): 14,000 kg (30,865 lb)
• Engines: One GE F414G afterburning turbofan (E/F variants)
• Top Speed: 2,100 km/h (1,300 mph) / Mach 2
• Range: 800 km (500 mi, 430 nmi)
• Service Ceiling: 15,240 m (50,000 ft)
• Loadout: 27 mm Mauser BK-27 cannon (omitted on the two-seat variants), including air-to-air missiles such as the AIM-9 Sidewinder, air-to-ground missiles such as the AGM-65 Maverick, and anti-ship missiles such as the RBS-15
• Aircrew: 1–2, depending on variant

The Swedish Air Force currently operates 100 JAS 39 Gripen C/D models, with the oldest among them more than 23 years old and the newest adopted 11 years ago. The Gripen C, which was developed to provide NATO interoperability and enhanced operational capability, was first introduced in 2005.

The newest variant of the Gripen, the Gripen E, was first introduced in December 2019 and officially began operational service with the Swedish Air Force last year.

Earlier this year, GKN Aerospace delivered the first upgraded RM12EP (Enhanced Performance) engine for the Gripen C/D models. According to the company, the new powerplant—which will replace the original Volvo Aero RM12 that was derived from the General Electric F404 turbofan engine—is outfitted with improved turbine hardware and updated control software that will augment the engine’s performance, increasing thrust, extending the engine’s operating time, and even decreasing life-cycle costs.

The HuAF’s Gripen C/D aircraft are now in the process of being upgraded with the new engines. Work will continue until the entire fleet receives the new engines.

The Gripen Finds International Customers

In addition to Sweden and Hungary, the Gripen is now in service in the Czech Republic (Czechia), South Africa, and Thailand. It has found further favor in South America, as Brazil, Colombia, and Peru have each placed orders for the latest Gripen E/F variants.

Key selling points have included its low operating cost and its multirole capabilities, including both air combat and air-to-ground operations, and the ability to carry a variety of advanced munitions. It can operate from austere facilities, including remote roads that have been converted into temporary runways, and is outfitted with reinforced landing gear that positions the airframe high above the ground, preventing debris from being sucked into the jet engine’s air intake.

Another factor that has contributed to the success in Latin America is Saab’s partnership with Brazilian aerospace company Embraer. Earlier this year, manufacturing of the first F-39E Gripen was completed at Embraer’s facility in São Paulo.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

The post This NATO Country Just Got Its Last JAS 39 Gripen Fighter Jets appeared first on The National Interest.

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