Exploring the First Gripen E with a Saab Test Pilot
The first Gripen E to take to the air was one of the early prototypes of the E series, designated 39-8. The historic flight, which lasted for an impressive 40 minutes, took place on June 15th, 2017 over Linköping, Sweden.
Gripen 39-8 has ever since served as a platform to run various tests and updates for Gripen E at Saab facilities in Sweden. In this video by Siivet-Wings, Test pilot André Brännström carries out a comprehensive 45-minute-long walk-through of the aircraft at Saab, Linköping. He talks extensively about the role and performance of a Gripen in various flight situations, the flight technicalities involved, the functionality of the parts of the aircraft, and the weapon systems.
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Two decades of Gripen fighters in the Czech Air Force – making the skies safe
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On April 18, 2025, the Czech Armed Forces will mark the 20th anniversary of the first landing of the JAS-39C Gripen at Čáslav Airbase, which has since become a cornerstone of Czech air defense. Over these two decades, Gripen aircraft have not only protected Czech airspace but have also supported many NATO operations across Europe.
Gripen technology put to the test in offensive missions at Cruzex 2024
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Destroying, disrupting or limiting enemy military aviation: these are basically the objectives of Offensive Counterair (OCA), one of the air force tasks in which the Gripen E is being deployed during Cruzex 2024.
Dispersed operations with Gripen - resilient combat effect that counts
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Gripen undergoes tropical testing in northern Brazil
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The recent climate tests conducted in Belém and Salinópolis exposed the Gripen to hot and humid conditions, with temperatures reaching approximately 35ºC and humidity of 85% at sea level.
Deploy. Survive. Win.
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The Gripen fighter system exists to guarantee air superiority in time of war. Sweden’s operational requirements for Gripen were driven by a superpower threat of all-out conflict across air, land and sea. This simple statement hides the highest possible objective; national survival. The result was a fighter from Saab that is threat-driven at every point in its design, and utterly unique.
Behind the scenes of a Gripen air-to-air photo-shoot
7 min
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Executing a successful air-to-air photo-shoot requires quite a lot of planning and a bit of luck with the weather. At Saab Aeronautics communications department we made a formal request to the Swedish Air force to use one of their C-130 Hercules and a Gripen C aircraft to be able to shoot footage of the Gripen C and Gripen E flying together.
Brazilian Gripen E conducts IRST tests in simulated aerial combat
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The Brazilian Gripen E aircraft with registration FAB 4100, dedicated to tests in Brazil, took part in a flight test campaign in Anápolis (GO) to assess the Infrared Search and Track (IRST), a passive long-range target detection sensor.
The Brazilian Air Force receives another Gripen E.
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The fighter jet, with registration FAB 4107, landed at Anápolis Air Base (BAAN) on Friday morning, December 15.
Hungarian Gripen exercised in field conditions
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The Adaptive Hussars 2023 exercise of the Hungarian Defence Forces brought pilots, technicians and equipment of the MH Szentgyörgyi Dezső 101st Aviation to the Lake Balaton area. Here, at Sármellék, a former air base used by Soviet Air Force for more than 33 years ago, acted as the new environment for five Hungarian Gripen fighters and its personell.
Gripen fighters at NATO Tiger Meet 2023
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Gripen fighters from the two NATO countries Hungary and Czech Republic participated as usual. Both countries have a long story of participation in NATO led exercises and air policing assignments with their Gripens and NATO Tiger Meet is not an exception.