Saab announced on 20 December 2024 that it had received an additional order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) covering enhanced capabilities for the Swedish Air Force’s (SwAF’s) fleet of Gripen C/D fighters.
The contract extension, which is valued at SEK 466 million (EUR 40.7 million), includes several important updates and studies of upcoming air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles.
“The extension of the Gripen C/D contract marks an important step forward for our defence,” Lars Tossman, head of Saab’s Aeronautics business area, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “The integration of new advanced missile systems demonstrates our commitment to delivering high-quality solutions. We are proud to contribute to Sweden’s defence capability through this contract.”
Although the SwAF will begin to induct the first of 60 Gripen Es from this year, it still operates 71 Gripen C (JAS39C) fighters and 23 Gripen D (JAS39D) fighter/conversion trainers of 75 and 25 aircraft delivered respectively from 2004.
In April 2022 the FMV announced that all of the SwAF’s Gripen C/Ds would be upgraded to keep them operationally relevant until 2035. At this point the plan was to retain 40 Gripen C/Ds in SwAF service alongside the 60 Gripen Es for a total fleet of 100 Gripen C/D/Es, but in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine it was subsequently decided that 60 Gripen C/Ds would be retained.
