Air Data News
• Ricardo Meier
The Royal Thai Air Force wants to include funding for eight additional Saab Gripen E/F fighters in its 2027 budget, earlier than previously planned. The purchase would bring its planned Gripen fleet to 12 aircraft, replacing older F-16s.
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Saab reported third-quarter earnings and revenue above expectations, while new orders more than tripled year over year. The company attributed the surge in part to a deal to supply Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine, underscoring the contract’s significance to the Swedish defense group’s order intake.
The Royal Thai Air Force wants to include funding for eight additional Saab Gripen E/F fighters in its 2027 budget, earlier than previously planned. The purchase would bring its planned Gripen fleet to 12 aircraft, replacing older F-16s.
The aircraft, based on Bombardier’s Global business jet, will undergo testing and verification before its maiden flight and delivery. The rollout advances Sweden’s replacement of its Saab 340 AEW-300 fleet as Saab expands GlobalEye production amid growing international demand.
Saab is considering establishing GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft production in Canada, a move it says could help meet growing global demand. The proposal would expand the platform’s manufacturing footprint, though details on timing, capacity, investment or customer commitments were not provided.
The first Gripen E assembled in Brazil has flown, marking a production milestone for Saab’s partnership with Embraer and Brazil’s fighter program. The locally assembled supersonic aircraft is expected to operate from Anápolis Air Force Base.
High activity
The first Saab Gripen E assembled in Brazil has completed its maiden flight from Embraer’s Gavião Peixoto facility in São Paulo state. Built through the Saab-Embraer partnership for Brazil’s air force, the aircraft is the first Gripen produced outside Sweden; the flight tested key systems and validated its flight characteristics.
Sweden’s air force is expanding its Gripen doctrine beyond defending national airspace, preparing to strike military targets deep inside Russia if Sweden comes under attack. The shift signals a broader concept of air warfare focused on taking the fight beyond Swedish territory.
The Swedish Air Force is adapting its Gripens to operate from dispersed locations and strike deep inside Russia if Sweden is attacked. The effort includes developing longer-range strike capabilities, reflecting a shift in how Sweden is preparing its air force for a high-intensity conflict.
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