Saab JAS 39A/B Gripen
The original Swedish Gripen — a light single-engined fighter, attack and reconnaissance aircraft built for dispersed road bases · First flight 1988 · In service 1996
The prototype 39-1 first flew on 9 December 1988 with test pilot Stig Holmström, but was lost in a landing accident at Linköping on 2 February 1989 after a flight-control software problem; the pilot survived with a broken elbow. A production aircraft was also lost during a display at the Stockholm Water Festival on 8 August 1993. After software fixes, deliveries began in June 1993, the Gripen was introduced at the Skaraborg Wing (F 7) at Såtenäs in June 1996, and its first squadron was declared operational on 1 November 1997.
The two-seat JAS 39B first flew on 29 April 1996. It is 66 cm longer than the 39A to fit the second seat, and gives up the cannon and some internal fuel. Sweden ordered 30 Batch I aircraft in 1982 and 110 more (96 39As and 14 39Bs) in 1992.
As the Swedish Air Force moved to the improved C/D standard, many A/B airframes were rebuilt to C/D configuration, including aircraft later leased or sold abroad. A leased 39B also flew with the UK's Empire Test Pilots' School as its advanced fast-jet trainer.
