LINKÖPING, Sweden, — Saab has successfully completed the first flight of the Gripen F, the two-seat variant of the Gripen E fighter. The flight took place on August 28, 2026, at Saab’s airfield in Linköping, Sweden, marking the start of the aircraft’s airborne test campaign.
The aircraft took off at 09:40 local time and remained airborne for 40 minutes. Saab chief test pilot Jakob Högberg and Brazilian Air Force test pilot Lieutenant Colonel Aviator Abdon de Rezende Vasconcelos flew the mission. The sortie verified the functionality of the aircraft’s core systems and its initial flight performance.
Brazil is the launch customer for the Gripen F. The aircraft carries Brazilian Air Force markings and was formally rolled out at Linköping on June 2, 2026. Manufacturing of the first Gripen F began in 2020. The aircraft combines components common with the Gripen E with a redesigned forward fuselage to accommodate the second cockpit.
Lars Tossman, head of Saab’s Aeronautics business area, said the first flight was an important step for Saab and the Brazilian Air Force. He said the Gripen F is designed to accelerate pilot training while enhancing operational performance in advanced combat missions.
Flight Testing
Following the first flight, the Gripen F will undergo initial production acceptance flights before progressive flight-envelope expansion. Test teams will gradually evaluate speed, altitude, G-load and angle of attack, while also testing tactical capabilities and functions specific to the rear cockpit.
The test campaign will be conducted by Saab’s Flight Test Centre in Sweden. After the planned testing and aircraft acceptance procedures are completed, the Gripen F will be prepared for delivery to the Brazilian Air Force.
Developed With Brazil
The Gripen F is the result of the strategic partnership between Brazil and Sweden and the technology-transfer programme under Brazil’s Gripen programme. More than 350 Brazilian engineers, technicians and pilots have participated in training related to development, production, flight testing and maintenance.
Brazil also played an active role in co-developing the two-seat variant, supporting direct industrial participation and long-term cooperation between the two countries.
Brazil’s 2014 contract covers 36 Gripen aircraft, comprising 28 single-seat Gripen E and eight two-seat Gripen F aircraft. Deliveries began in 2020, with 11 aircraft handed over so far, all single-seat models. The first Gripen E assembled in Brazil was rolled out at Embraer’s facility in Gavião Peixoto in March 2026.
The Gripen F retains the Gripen E’s core configuration, including its AESA radar and General Electric F414G engine. The second cockpit can operate independently or together with the front cockpit, allowing the aircraft to be used for pilot training and operational missions. The Gripen F is 15.9 metres long, has a 16,500 kg maximum take-off weight and retains the same number of external hardpoints as the Gripen E. Unlike the single-seat Gripen E, it does not have an internal cannon.
Additional Gripen F orders have been placed by Colombia for two aircraft and Thailand for one aircraft as part of an initial batch. The Swedish Air Force has not ordered the two-seat version.
The first flight begins the Gripen F’s flight-testing phase in Sweden. Further testing will continue before the aircraft is prepared for transfer to the Brazilian Air Force.
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