Saab JAS 39 Gripen Specs, Variants, Cost and Operators

The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a single-engine, delta-wing multirole fighter built by Saab in Linköping, Sweden, flown by Sweden, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Hungary, South Africa and Thailand, with new Gripen E/F orders from Colombia and Ukraine. This guide covers Gripen specs, the C/D and E/F variants, cost, operators, orders and production, with dates as of 30 September 2026.

Saab lists 117 Gripen E/F fighters ordered by Sweden (60), Brazil (36), Colombia (17) and Thailand (4), and it signed a further 16 for Ukraine on 30 June 2026. Chief executive Micael Johansson told investors on 23 April 2026 that output was about 15 aircraft a year and heading toward 20 to 30.

Saab Gripen Specs and Performance

The Gripen uses a delta wing with canards and a fly-by-wire control system. The C/D versions run on a Volvo RM12 turbofan, a licence-built derivative of the General Electric F404, while the E/F versions use the GE F414.

Saab says the Gripen E can operate from short runways and roads and needs a combat turnaround of 15 to 25 minutes.

Gripen Variants: C/D, E/F and NG Explained

Gripen variants are grouped by generation. The A/B entered Swedish service in the 1990s, the C/D added NATO compatibility and air-to-air refuelling, and the E/F is a larger redesign.

Sweden decided on 17 January 2013 to buy 60 Gripen E. The first series aircraft entered Swedish Air Force service on 20 October 2025, according to Militär Aktuell.

How Much Does a Gripen Cost?

Saab does not publish a unit price, and contract values include spares, training and support. The table divides each recent contract by the aircraft it covers, which is a package figure per aircraft rather than a flyaway price.

Operating cost is the other half of the question. A study by Aviation Week for Saab in 2023 put the Gripen C/D at $20,643 per flight hour and the E/F at $22,174, against $46,282 for the F-35, and Swedish magazine Flygrevyn in 2021 put the Gripen at SEK 32,100 against SEK 144,900 for the F-35. The Saab-sponsored study and the Wikipedia summary of both are the sources for these figures. In Peru’s 2025 evaluation, Armada International reported Gripen unit costs of $110 million to $120 million per aircraft.

Which Countries Operate the Gripen?

Sweden is the launch and largest operator, having ordered 204 Gripens in three batches. Our Saab company profile covers the manufacturer’s wider business.

Ukraine has also signed a letter of intent with Sweden for up to 150 Gripen E, but Saab said in its year-end report that it had received no order related to it at the time. Sweden announced the C/D donation on 28 May 2026.

Gripen E Engine, Radar and Weapons

The Gripen E is powered by the GE F414-GE-39E. GE Aerospace said in its release on Thailand’s order that Thailand is the third country with F414-GE-39E-powered Gripens, after Sweden and Brazil, and that more than 1,600 F414 engines of all types have been delivered with over 5 million flight hours.

The Gripen E carries up to seven MBDA Meteor beyond-visual-range missiles and two IRIS-T short-range missiles, according to Saab. The first flight with two Meteors took place at Linköping in November 2018. On 2 December 2025 Saab announced that Brazil had fired two Meteors from Gripen E fighters during the BVR-X exercise at Natal Air Base, and both hit Mirach 100/5 drone targets.

How Many Gripens Does Saab Build Each Year?

AeroTime reported that output stood at about 15 aircraft a year after Saab’s first-quarter 2026 results, with a target of 20 to 30 and a longer-term ambition of 36. Saab’s second-quarter commentary, reported by defence-industry.eu, put the goal at 25 to 30 a year, with Johansson saying the company was “moving quickly towards the higher production rate”.

Recent Gripen Developments and Rivals

Ukraine’s order is the largest new Gripen deal of 2026, and Colombia’s came only months earlier. The Czech Republic, which extended its lease to 2035, is bridging to 24 Lockheed Martin F-35A fighters due between 2031 and 2035, according to Airdata News. Saab has pitched Gripen in other campaigns, including Portugal, where Airbus is offering the Eurofighter.

Canada is discussing Saab products too. AeroTime lists Canada among Saab’s active discussions, with its 88 F-35A order under review, and the country has agreed a separate term sheet for six GlobalEye aircraft.

Saab Company Profile

Saab Gripen FAQ

What is the Saab Gripen?

A single-engine, delta-wing multirole fighter built by Saab in Sweden. It is flown by six countries and has been ordered by Colombia and Ukraine.

What is the difference between Gripen C/D and E/F?

The C/D uses a Volvo RM12 engine and PS-05/A radar. The E/F is larger, with a 98 kN GE F414 engine, a Raven ES-05 AESA radar, IRST and more hardpoints.

What engine does the Gripen E use?

The GE F414-GE-39E, rated at 98 kN.

How much does a Gripen cost?

Saab publishes no unit price. Recent contracts work out to about SEK 1.1 billion to SEK 1.5 billion per aircraft including support, and Peru was quoted $110 million to $120 million per aircraft in 2025.

Which countries fly the Gripen?

Sweden, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Hungary, South Africa and Thailand. Colombia and Ukraine have ordered the E/F.

Can the Gripen fire the Meteor missile?

Yes. Saab says a Gripen E can carry up to seven Meteors, and Brazil fired two in November 2025.

How many Gripens does Ukraine get?

16 Gripen E under a SEK 24.6 billion contract signed 30 June 2026, plus 16 C/D donated by Sweden from early 2027.

How many Gripens are built each year?

About 15 as of April 2026, with Saab targeting 20 to 30 and, in the long run, 36.