Saab has signed a contract with the Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV) to provide additional equipment for the manufacture of Gripen E fighters, the company announced on 25 June 2025.
The order, which is worth approximately SEK 2.9 billion (EUR 260 million), is supplementary to the original Gripen E contract, signed in February 2013, under which 60 Gripen E (JAS39E) fighters were ordered.
The latest order has come about because the original Gripen E order was based on reusing certain equipment from the Swedish Air Force’s (SwAF’s) existing Gripen C/D fleet. However, it was subsequently decided that, to preserve the combat mass of the SwAF, all Gripen C/Ds would be retained in service and the Gripen Es would be entirely new-build aircraft.
The fast jet combat fleet of the SwAF currently comprises 71 Saab Gripen C (JAS39C) fighters and 23 Gripen D (JAS39D) fighter/conversion trainers of 75 and 25 delivered respectively from 2004.
Meanwhile, the FMV has been operating a small number of Gripen Es in a test campaign since October 2023 and deliveries of the type to the SwAF’s Skaraborg Air Force Wing (F7) are scheduled to begin in 2025.
“We are very happy to support the Swedish Air Force to safeguard our air domain,” stated Lars Tossman, head of Saab’s Aeronautics business area, in a company press release. “This contract ensures full availability of the Gripen C/D fleet and, at the same time, enables Gripen E to be introduced into the Swedish Armed Forces with new equipment, securing its operational life for decades to come.”
