Saab JAS 39 Gripen
Saab AB · Sweden · first flew 1988 · fighter
The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a lightweight Swedish single-engine multirole fighter with a canard-delta layout designed for dispersed, road-base operations.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, delta |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Boxy fuselage-side intakes |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Large all-moving canards
- Single engine canard-delta
- Boxy fuselage-side intakes
Spot the large moving canards ahead of the delta wing, a single jet pipe with no tailplane and the simple rectangular intakes on the fuselage sides.
Specifications
- The Saab JAS 39 Gripen has a length of 14.1 m (46 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.4 m (28 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 2130 km/h (1324 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in December 1988, the Gripen pairs prominent all-moving canards with a delta wing and relaxed-stability fly-by-wire controls. Built around easy maintenance and short-field use, it replaced the Viggen and Draken in Swedish service.
Variants
The original JAS 39A/B led to the export-oriented C/D models with NATO-compatible systems and aerial refuelling. The substantially redesigned Gripen E/F introduced a more powerful engine, new radar and greater fuel and weapons capacity.
Where you'll see it
The Gripen serves Sweden and export customers including the Czech Republic, Hungary, South Africa, Thailand and Brazil. While not RAF equipment, the Swedish Air Force display Gripen is a regular and dynamic performer at RIAT Fairford, a favourite of UK enthusiasts.
Related aircraft
- Saab JAS 39E Gripen
- Saab 32 Lansen
- BAe Sea Harrier FA2
- Boeing/BAE Systems T-45 Goshawk
- JH-7 Flying Leopard (FBC-1)
- Mikoyan MiG-29K
Compared head-to-head
- F-35 Lightning II vs Saab JAS 39 Gripen
- F-16 Fighting Falcon vs Saab JAS 39 Gripen
- Dassault Rafale vs Saab JAS 39 Gripen
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