Saab has today signed a contract with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (Försvarets materielverk, FMV) and received an order for four additional Gripen C fighter aircraft for Hungarian Air Force (Magyar Légier?). This order follows an amendment to the contract between FMV and the Hungarian Government signed in December 2001 regarding 14 Gripen C/D fighters for the Hungarian Air Force. The contract amendment for the four additional aircraft was signed by the Hungarian Ministry of Defence and FMV on 23 February 2024. With this new contract amendment, Hungary will operate a total of 18 Gripen C/D to protect and defend the Hungarian and NATO airspace. Saab currently has a contract with FMV regarding support for Hungary’s Gripen aircraft, and Saab is ready to provide additional upgrades and support for the Hungarian fighters beyond 2035. Saab and the Hungarian Ministry of Defence have also signed an MoU regarding development of high-tech industrial areas and fighter aircraft capabilities. The cooperation includes support for the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for VR technologies in Hungary.
“With the Gripen fighter, Hungary has one of Europe’s most capable air forces. We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with the Hungarian Government and defence industry,” says Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab.
The Saab JAS 39 Gripen (English: griffin) is a light single-engine supersonic multirole fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace and defence company Saab AB. The Gripen has a delta wing and canard configuration with relaxed stability design and fly-by-wire flight controls. Later aircraft are fully NATO interoperable. As of 2020, more than 271 Gripens of all models, A–F, have been delivered. A major redesign of the Gripen series, previously referred to as Gripen NG (Next Generation) or Super JAS, now designated JAS 39E/F Gripen began deliveries to the Swedish Air Force and Brazilian Air Force in 2019. Changes from the JAS C to JAS E include a larger fuselage, a more powerful engine, an increased weapons payload capability, and new cockpit, avionics architecture, electronic warfare system and other improvements.
The Gripen is a multirole fighter aircraft, intended as a light-weight and agile aerial platform with advanced, highly adaptable avionics. It has canard control surfaces that contribute a positive lift force at all speeds, while the generous lift from the delta wing compensates for the rear stabiliser producing negative lift at high speeds, increasing induced drag. Gripen C or JAS 39C is an NATO-compatible single seat version with extended capabilities in terms of armament, electronics, etc. Can be refuelled in flight. Variant was first deliveried on 6 September 2002. Gripen D or JAS 39D is a two-seat version of the JAS 39C, with similar alterations as the JAS 39B. It is capable of flying at a 70–80 degrees angle of attack. To enable the Gripen to have a long service life, roughly 50 years, Saab designed it to have low maintenance requirements.
