Saab 39 Gripen
The Saab 39 Gripen is a compact, lightweight multirole fighter built specifically to be cheaper to buy and operate than larger rivals like the Eurofighter or F-16, while still meeting modern combat requirements. Like its Saab predecessors, it's designed to operate from short stretches of ordinary public road as part of Sweden's dispersed wartime basing strategy, a capability few other modern fighters retain. Its relatively low operating cost and straightforward maintenance have made it a popular export choice for smaller air forces, including Brazil, South Africa, and several Central European nations. It remains in active production today, with a larger, more powerful Gripen E/F version extending the line further.
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Did you know?
The Gripen is designed to operate from short stretches of ordinary public road, part of Sweden's dispersed wartime basing strategy.
Specifications
| Length | 14.1 m (46 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 8.4 m (28 ft) |
| Height | 4.5 m (15 ft) |
| Persons on board | 2 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 12.9 t |
| Range | 800 NM (1,482 km) |
| Maximum speed | 1,145 kt (2,121 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 50,000 ft (15,240 m) |
| Rate of climb | 14,000 ft/min (71.1 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 800 m (2,625 ft) |
| Landing distance | 800 m (2,625 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 2,270 l |
| Engines | 1x Volvo Aero RM12 |
| Units built | 300 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
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