A look at the Saab 39 Gripen fighter; Amazing Swedish plane

Swedish fighter Saab Jas 39 Gripen – Saab Jas 39 Gripen is not as well known as it should be; But it was and is one of the best delta-wing fighter planes.

Good style and efficiency are two quality components that are not easy to find in a technological product. But the design of delta wings on airplanes proved that it was possible. This triangular design not only gives an iconic look to the planes; Rather, it has aerodynamic advantages and makes them more agile. Swedish fighter Saab 39 Gripenis a good example.

The history and capabilities of the Swedish fighter Saab 39 Gripen

This warplane came out of the Swedish Bas 90 program. The Bass 90 was designed in the 1970s to allow the Swedish Air Force to conduct operations from small bases close together. The goal was to prevent the widespread destruction of the country’s warplanes if an attack occurred during the Cold War.

But for the plan to go well, a fighter jet with special capabilities was needed. The Saab Yas 39 Gripen was exactly what the Swedish Air Force wanted: to be able to take off quickly from small, temporary bases when necessary.

To showcase this capability, Saab released a video in 2017 that showed a Gripen C fighter jet taking off and landing on a road. This road was 800 meters long and 16 meters wide. While the airport runway is usually 45 meters wide.

By the way, this fighter still has some parts and equipment of the first generation Gripen. Its main weapon is the Mauser BK-27 gun mounted on the front of the aircraft; But it is also possible to equip it with several small and large missiles. Propulsion from the Volvo RM-12 engine provides the necessary maneuverability while maintaining controllability.

Either way, you won’t find a better fighter for Cold War Sweden than the Gripen. Of course, in those tense years, Sweden did not suffer the military attack of the enemy; But this does not mean that the development of the Gripen fighter under the Bas 90 program was a waste of time. This bird served the air force of several other countries, including Thailand and Hungary.

The Gripen family continues to evolve. In 2022, Saab signed a contract with the Swedish Defense Industry Organization to modernize and produce the new generation of this fighter. The value of this contract is equivalent to 3.2 billion dollars and is valid until 2029.

The manufacturing company intends to upgrade Gripen’s weapons, engine, sensors and communication facilities; Something that will keep it reliable and competitive.