The Czech Air Force plans to use the Swedish Gripen as a stopgap until it acquires the F-35 in 2031.
The Czech Air Force will continue to operate the Swedish-made Saab JAS 39C/D Gripen multirole fighters for another decade. Prague approved a deal on Thursday that extends the lease on the aircraft until 2035. At that point, the Central European nation will have operated the Gripen for three decades, after first adopting the warplane in 2005 to replace its legacy Soviet-era fighters.
The current lease was set to expire in 2027, having already been extended by 12 years, according to the Associated Press. Under the new contract terms, Prague will pay 16.7 billion Czech koruna ($790 million) for 12 aircraft, two fewer “than under the current contract.” The contract will also include pilot training and support.
It is unclear whether Prague will return two of its single-seat models or the two twin-seat versions used for training. However, the Gripens, which have been upgraded to the MS20 standard, will likely remain stationed at Cáslav Air Base, east of Prague.
The Czech Republic Is Phasing Out Its Gripen Fighters
Although the current contract will extend the JAS-39’s service in Central Europe, it will almost certainly not continue beyond that point. The Czech Republic concluded a deal with the United States two years ago to acquire the fifth-generation Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. In June 2023, the US State Department approved the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract, while the deal received approval from the Czech Parliament in August of the same year.
A total of 24 F-35As, the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variants of the Joint Strike Fighter, will be supplied to the central European NATO country, with deliveries beginning in 2031 and continuing through 2035.
Saab has pushed hard for Prague to choose the Gripen over the F-35, and at one point offered to allow the Czech Air Force to retain its existing fleet at no cost until newer models could be delivered. Prague opted for the Lightning II, but will retain the Gripen for another decade.
Other Nations Are Getting the Gripen, Too
Although the Czech Republic will only operate the JAS 39 until the mid-2030s, NATO member Hungary announced last year that it would purchase an additional four Gripen C/D models, expanding its fleet from the 14 currently in service. Budapest became the third operator of the aircraft after it was adopted by the Swedish military, followed by the Czech Air Force.
While the aircraft was developed in the Nordic nation, it has found favor throughout the world. South Africa, Thailand, and Brazil have also concluded deals to acquire the Swedish-made Gripen, while Colombia and Peru have also expressed interest in the fighter.
The Gripen’s ability to operate from remote bases and austere environments, including roads converted to makeshift runways, could make it well-suited for those countries. The fighter’s reinforced landing gear positions the airframe high above the ground, preventing debris from being sucked into the jet engine’s air intake. The JAS 39 was also developed with low maintenance requirements and has a lower flight hour cost than other modern fighters.
Origins of the JAS 39 Gripen
The JAS 39 Gripen (Griffin) was initially designed to replace the variants of the Saab 35 Viggen and Saab 37 Draken combat aircraft used by the Swedish Air Force. The development of what was to become the Gripen began in the late 1970s, when the Swedish government initiated a program for an aircraft that could serve in fighter, close air support, and reconnaissance roles. After evaluating several existing foreign aircraft, including the American F-16 Fighting Falcon and F/A-18 Hornet fighters, the Swedish Parliament decided in June 1982 to proceed with the Gripen project.
The development of the Gripen was part of a joint effort by an industrial consortium comprising Saab, Saab Microwave Systems (formerly Ericsson), Volvo Aero Corporation, Saab Avitronics, and FFV Aerotech. The Gripen was the first Swedish multi-role fighter capable of carrying out air interception, ground attack, and reconnaissance missions. The single-engine JAS 39 began as a single-seater fighter, but Saab also produced the B and D versions, which featured a more extended canopy to accommodate a crew of two.
The fourth-generation multirole fighter was first flown in December 1988 and entered operational service with the Swedish Air Force in 1997. The Swedish Air Force initially ordered a total of 204 aircraft in three batches, but Saab has produced fewer than 100 to date. That number could increase as foreign orders continue and Stockholm increases its defense spending.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
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