Skaraborg Air Wing F 7 was designated back in 2021 as the first operational unit to be equipped and wartime-deployed with the Gripen E. The ceremony gathered representatives from the Ministry of Defence, the Swedish Armed Forces, the Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), and Saab to commemorate the official transfer.
Defence Minister Pål Jonson described the moment as “an important day for the Air Force and for Sweden’s defense.” On X, he added: “Gripen E is an example of Sweden’s technological edge, and a modern combat aircraft that, in almost every respect, is entirely new. The aircraft includes advanced electronic-warfare systems and can receive new software updates within hours. This enables rapid innovation and flexibility. Gripen E is also being tested with AI capabilities that have attracted international attention.”
Commander-in-Chief of the Swedish Armed Forces, General Michael Claesson, stated: “The receipt of the JAS 39 Gripen E marks an important milestone in the development of the Swedish defense. This is the result of long-term work and close collaboration between the Armed Forces, FMV and Swedish industry. Gripen E strengthens our national defence capability to meet future threats together with our allies. Continue making us proud.”
FMV handed over the aircraft’s logbook to Air Force Chief Jonas Wikman, symbolising the Gripen E’s official entry into service. “We are getting a fighter aircraft that is developed to meet a qualified adversary and the complex operational environment we must operate in,” Wikman said. “It builds on the flexible characteristics of the current Gripen but with better performance and an advanced sensor suite that gives us superior situational awareness.”
Unlike past transitions such as from Viggen to Gripen, the Swedish Air Force will now operate the Gripen E alongside the existing Gripen C/D fleet for an extended period. “I want to thank everyone for the work we’ve done — the result of long-term collaboration. Here we get a platform tailored to our needs. But we cannot lean back. This is the beginning of our capability development,” Wikman added.
Commander of Skaraborg Air Wing, Colonel Mattias Ottis, described the Gripen E as a completely new aircraft. “It is a completely new system – built to meet future requirements for survivability, range, sensors and interoperability,” he said. “It is the result of Swedish engineering and innovation with a clear focus on operational effect.”
Gripen E offers extended range, higher payload, and significantly enhanced survivability, tailored for contested environments where aircraft must operate in hostile airspace from the moment they take off. Ottis added: “This is a big day that marks the beginning of a new chapter in Swedish air history. Skaraborg Air Wing F 7 is the centre of Swedish combat air development – we are paving the way for the future. We are ready, we are excited – let’s go.”
The aircraft builds on the Gripen C/D’s flight characteristics but introduces major changes in mission systems and situational awareness. New features include a more powerful GE F414G engine, increased internal fuel capacity, modular software-defined systems, Raven ES-05 AESA radar, Skyward-G infrared search-and-track, and the Arexis electronic warfare suite.
The Gripen E remains compatible with Sweden’s dispersed operations doctrine and will employ advanced munitions including the Meteor and IRIS-T missiles. Sweden is also continuing to explore future-generation air combat technologies, with growing international interest and investment.
