Saab Gripen news

[ricnunes]

FAB's Gripen E successfully test launched Meteor, hitting the target drone, this ratifies the aircraft's full operational capacity in Brazil according to the FAB: https://www.fab.mil.br/noticias/mostra/45134

A test launch doesn't mean that an aircraft is fully operational! A test launch means precisely that, a TEST, something that's frequently done during development stages. All aircraft perform several air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons tests during development stages.

And speaking about Brazilian Gripen E, how about their data-link, eh?
I'll answer it for you: It's still no-where to be seen inside a (Brazilian) Gripen E. It's funny to see someone declaring that (Brazilian) Gripen E's are fully operational when they still don't have their data-links.
This not to mention other factors such as the F-5's still being fully responsible for the protection of Brazilian airspace, etc, etc...

[ricnunes]

Highly informative, very technical video about Gripen. https://youtu.be/Q6I3UUXSWBM

Amazing, now I'm must more proficient with Gripen tech...

LoL
At least and from my part, I now know what's a Gripen landing gear

[loke]

FAB's Gripen E successfully test launched Meteor, hitting the target drone, this ratifies the aircraft's full operational capacity in Brazil according to the FAB: https://www.fab.mil.br/noticias/mostra/45134

A test launch doesn't mean that an aircraft is fully operational! A test launch means precisely that, a TEST, something that's frequently done during development stages. All aircraft perform several air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons tests during development stages.

Several tests with Meteor on Gripen E has been conducted in Sweden already (first one was back in 2022 I think), so this is not the first or even second Meteor launch from Gripen E but the first from a Brazilian Gripen E.

I did not say that this ratified Gripens full operational capacity in Brazil; as I clearly explained above, it is the FAB that makes this statement. If you disagree, perhaps you should tell them that they are wrong.

[ricnunes]

Several tests with Meteor on Gripen E has been conducted in Sweden already (first one was back in 2022 I think), so this is not the first or even second Meteor launch from Gripen E but the first from a Brazilian Gripen E.

Several weapons of the same type are tested/released/launched by an aircraft during development stages. For example, the F-35 test launched several AMRAAMs during its development. It's not like you launch only one weapon from each type during each aircraft development stage.

I did not say that this ratified Gripens full operational capacity in Brazil; as I clearly explained above, it is the FAB that makes this statement. If you disagree, perhaps you should tell them that they are wrong.

The same Brazilian Air Force (FAB) also stated that the data-link isn't still operational with their Gripens. The same FAB also stated that the F-5 is still the fighter aircraft responsible for the protection of Brazilian airspace. Add that to the fact that Brazil only has 11 Gripen E's (and I'm not even going to talk about the Gripen F, LoL) while Sweden only has one (1).
And on top of all the above add the fact that the target for Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the Gripen E is late 2026 or early 2027:
https://aerospaceglobalnews.com/news/sw ... -delivery/

Initial Operational Capability (IOC) is targeted for late 2026 or early 2027, followed by Full Operational Capability (FOC) once the majority of the fleet is delivered.

So no, the Gripen E is still not operational (despite how many Meteor launches it may have achieved in Sweden). It's not even in Initial Operational Capability (IOC) and as such, yes it's still in development!


You also forget that I'm a Portuguese speaker and I can guarantee you that in no place of your link it is said that the Gripen E is already fully operational. Actually, quite by the contrary!
What is said about the subject is the following:

O Comandante da BANT, ainda, enalteceu o sucesso do lançamento como pilar fundamental para que a FAB cumpra sua missão de defesa da pátria. “Na sua caminhada exitosa, o nosso F-39 se mostra cada dia mais pronto e preparado e o que vimos nesse lançamento é um passo essencial, porque ele se torna com o binômio - F-39 Gripen e Meteor - uma autêntica ferramenta de defesa aérea, dentro do cenário moderno e da nossa missão institucional”, finalizou.

The above translated to English would be something like:

The BANT [Natal Airbase] Commander praised the success of the launch as a cornerstone that the FAB can fulfill its homeland defence mission. "In its successful path, day by day our F-39 is showing itself more ready and prepared and what we saw with this launch is an essential step because the two go hand in hand - F-39 Gripen and Meteor - as a real air defence tool within the modern scenario and our institutional mission", ended.

So what ended was not the Gripen E development stage but instead this particular test involving a Brazilian Gripen E and the Meteor missile. Again, the Gripen E is still in development and that's clearly hinted in the article you posted, including in the paragraph translated above.

[kekosam]

The Gripen E is indeed not operational. Not even initially, let alone fully.

They will test the cannon next week; the Link-BR is not operational.

In short, if necessary, the fighters that will go into combat are the A-29s, A-1s (the few that remain), and F-5s.

[ricnunes]

They will test the cannon next week; the Link-BR is not operational.

Thanks for the info, kekosam

[loke]

Saab signs MOU with AED cluster in Portugal.

https://www.aero-mag.com/saab-signs-mou-with-aed-cluster-portugal

Another, related article: Saab works with AED Cluster on Portuguese Gripen proposal: https://aviationweek.com/defense/budget-policy-operations/saab-works-aed-cluster-portuguese-gripen-proposal

[ricnunes]

Saab signs MOU with AED cluster in Portugal.

https://www.aero-mag.com/saab-signs-mou-with-aed-cluster-portugal

Another, related article: Saab works with AED Cluster on Portuguese Gripen proposal: https://aviationweek.com/defense/budget-policy-operations/saab-works-aed-cluster-portuguese-gripen-proposal

So did Lockheed Martin (and well before Saab)!

As such, that doesn't mean anything regarding Portugal and Gripen, if that's what you're hinting at:
https://www.aedportugal.pt/en/news/sign ... ed-martin/

Signature of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between AED Cluster Portugal and Lockheed Martin
AED Cluster Portugal and Lockheed Martin to explore industrial cooperation

[h-bomb]

Saab signs MOU with AED cluster in Portugal.

https://www.aero-mag.com/saab-signs-mou-with-aed-cluster-portugal

Another, related article: Saab works with AED Cluster on Portuguese Gripen proposal: https://aviationweek.com/defense/budget-policy-operations/saab-works-aed-cluster-portuguese-gripen-proposal

When was the last time the Portugal bought a new combat jet?

F-16 Used 1994
A-7 Used 1981
F-86F Used 1968
G.91 Used 1961
F-84 25 New! and 100 used 1953

This is true for almost all the aircraft they have. Given the history of that service and its aircraft, I due suspect the Gripen C/D would be a leading contender for them. Unless the USAF surpluses early F-35s.

[hornetfinn]

I doubt used Gripen C/Ds are really possible as they are all now between 20-30 years old and flown quite hard and they don't have many flight hours left. There are also not many of them around and Sweden needs pretty much all of them until they get enough E-models, which will take a decade from now. This is very different to those earlier jets as they were all quite a bit newer and there were huge numbers of them available at the time. Sure Gripens could potentially be rebuilt to have reasonable service life but that would be awefully expensive way to get a totally obsolete aircraft into service. I mean new F-35s might be cheaper option to acquire and definitely cheaper in the long run.

[ricnunes]

When was the last time the Portugal bought a new combat jet?

F-16 Used 1994
A-7 Used 1981
F-86F Used 1968
G.91 Used 1961
F-84 25 New! and 100 used 1953

I think you already asked this and I already replied to you (not so long ago and in another thread). The last time that Portugal bought a new combat jet was the F-16 in 1990 and delivered in 1994. The program was called Peace Atlantis I.
You don't even need to leave this site in order to check this: https://www.f-16.net/f-16_users_article16.html

The aircraft were new-built to Block 15OCU standard, which makes them almost identical to the F-16 ADF (Air Defense Fighter).

Later Portugal bought a second batch of F-16s (Peace Atlantis II) which were indeed used/second hand but here I'm sure it was more due to the fact that since the Cold War has ended, lots and lots of used F-16s were suddenly available in the market at a much cheaper price than new built ones. And Portugal was far from being the only country taking the advantage of buying much cheaper used/second hand F-16s during that time.
I'm also pretty sure that I also and already told you that.

On top of that, you don't seem to know that before the mid-1980's Portugal was a developing country country (a "third world country" but aligned with the west) but since then it became and it's now a first world country but here I digress...

This is true for almost all the aircraft they have. Given the history of that service and its aircraft, I due suspect the Gripen C/D would be a leading contender for them. Unless the USAF surpluses early F-35s.

Don't get me wrong but that's absurd!
It would be far, far more feasible for Portugal to simply upgrade their F-16s to Block 70 standard. Or alternatively to buy unused and lower hour second hand F-16s like those stored at AMARG and upgrade them to Block 70. This has all the advantages compared to Gripen C/D (used or new) such as:
- Cheaper
- Far more capable (the F-16 Block 70 is far, far more capable than a Gripen C)
- And the work could be done in Portugal! Yes, Portugal does refurbish and upgrade F-16s like it was seen when Portugal sold F-16s to Romania, not to mention the MLU upgrade for Portuguese Air Force F-16s.

Actually the Portuguese Air Force had two plans when it comes to its future fighter fleet:
1- Update their F-16s to Block 70 and then buy F-35s.
2- Go straight for the F-35s.
It seems that Portugal now favours option no.2

[hornetfinn]

Interesting Gripen article:
https://theaviationist.com/2025/12/03/interview-wiseguy-bergqvist/

Inside the Evolving Nordic Airpower: How the Swedish Air Force Is Adapting to the Russian Threat https://theaviationist.com/2025/12/03/i ... bergqvist/ via @The Aviationist

[hornetfinn]

Some thoughts about that article:

Interesting that they thought that only AESA radar equipped fighter could shoot down drones and cruise missile and it seems the Swedish never even seriously tested that. While AESA equipped fighter is definitely a lot more capable in detecting, tracking and engaging those targets, even MSA equipped fighters can do it as evidenced by Ukrainian F-16s and Mirage 2000-5s having been successful in shooting down both target types. Neither one even has the best MSA radar variant available to those aircraft.

I also think that there was something missing in that hardened aircraft shelters and underground facilities are too expensive and Swedish Air Force would just use dispersal model. Sweden used to have (not sure what they currently have) some quite serious underground facilities for their fighter aircraft. Hell, Saab Viggen even had a folding tail fin to fit inside these underground facilities. While dispersed operations are great, hardened shelters and underground facilities provide protection against surprise attacks and also facilitate maintenance and repairs while having protection against enemy attacks. So I'd say that both can be used at the same time. Of course they might still do this but he wanted to emphasise the dispersed operations.

[spad_s.xiii]

I visited the F21 Wing he talked about in the interview, in February 2023. Very interesting to talk to the pilots and see them prepare and take off for an exercise, plus testing the simulator, including BVR-fight against an enemy aircraft (I won). I've visited many AFBs, but never a Swedish one before. Except that the February weather was colder than at Al Dhafra (Abu Dhabi), where I was the week before, it's very easy to get there as they are using the same airfield as the airport, just on the other side from the terminal. Not so common for an AFB, in my experience.

Our simulator instructors had been flying since Viggen-time and flown many different aircrafts, mainly F-16 and F-18, but also other, like Mirage, et c., so interesting to hear about the pros and cons for the different fighters.

About the downing of drones, we talked about that kind of excercises at the Vidsel Test Range. Gripen could of course shoot down drones and cruise missiles even before the upgrade, but as I understand it, its about size, RCS, maneuverability and speed, where they have taken a step up with the new upgrade.

Performance for modern radars are more and more about computing abilities and not just about size and number of elements anymore, although you can't beat physics. But you can push the limits. A simple radar equation is not enough.

[hornetfinn]

I visited the F21 Wing he talked about in the interview, in February 2023. Very interesting to talk to the pilots and see them prepare and take off for an exercise, plus testing the simulator, including BVR-fight against an enemy aircraft (I won). I've visited many AFBs, but never a Swedish one before. Except that the February weather was colder than at Al Dhafra (Abu Dhabi), where I was the week before, it's very easy to get there as they are using the same airfield as the airport, just on the other side from the terminal. Not so common for an AFB, in my experience.

Nice experience! Yes, in the Nordic countries most AFBs use the same airfield as the airport. This is just a cost issue as the amount of air traffic is rather small due to small populations and on the other hand we have relatively few military aircraft, so a dedicated AFB is quite expensive for that.

Our simulator instructors had been flying since Viggen-time and flown many different aircrafts, mainly F-16 and F-18, but also other, like Mirage, et c., so interesting to hear about the pros and cons for the different fighters.

About the downing of drones, we talked about that kind of excercises at the Vidsel Test Range. Gripen could of course shoot down drones and cruise missiles even before the upgrade, but as I understand it, its about size, RCS, maneuverability and speed, where they have taken a step up with the new upgrade.

Performance for modern radars are more and more about computing abilities and not just about size and number of elements anymore, although you can't beat physics. But you can push the limits. A simple radar equation is not enough.

You are totally correct that the radar hardware itself is only a small part of the radar performance as so much depends on the computing abilities and software that run the whole show. Without serious computing power and complex software, AESA radars would not even work. Even MSA and PESA radars can be quite significantly improved with upgrading those like what happened with Gripen's PS-05/A Mk4 (or some other new variants). Especially when it comes to detecting and tracking small targets in clutter like cruise missiles or drones flying near ground and countering EW. This is also why it's really difficult to compare modern radars from public information as performance is nowadays so tied to computing capacity and software.