Gripen E: The Fighter Jet That’s Changing the Rules of Modern Air Combat

In an age where air superiority is often the tipping point between success and failure in military operations, Saab’s Gripen E-series has emerged as a transformational force in the skies. Designed for nations facing sophisticated and evolving threats, Gripen E is not just a fighter aircraft—it’s a next-generation combat system built to dominate the electromagnetic spectrum and redefine 21st-century warfare.

Smarter Combat Starts Here

What sets Gripen E apart is its human-machine synergy, achieved through advanced AI-driven avionics and a cockpit tailored for intuitive decision-making. Its Wide Area Display (WAD), embedded AI, and sensor fusion allow pilots to assess complex situations in real-time, enabling faster and more accurate responses. With such high-level collaboration between pilot and machine, the aircraft operates more like an intelligent partner than a tool.

Information Dominance in a Contested Sky

Modern air combat is no longer just about firepower—it’s about seeing first, understanding first, and acting first. Gripen E achieves this through a 360-degree sensor suite, silent networking, and total data fusion across platforms. Whether in the lead or flying passively in a formation, Gripen E ensures that its team gets the first look and the first kill, staying one step ahead of adversaries.

Electronic Warfare: Beyond Jamming

Electronic warfare (EW) is where the Gripen E shines brightest. Its system isn’t just about jamming enemy signals—it’s about total electromagnetic dominance. By blending Electronic Protection, Electronic Attack, and Electronic Support in a single, integrated package, Gripen E can confuse, mislead, or suppress enemy sensors and missiles long before they pose a real threat.

With both internal and external jamming capabilities, air-launched decoys, and advanced signal intelligence, Gripen can disable enemy defenses from afar, making it a powerful tool for both penetration and protection.

Unmatched Lethality and Flexibility

Armed with 10 hard-points and compatibility with some of the most advanced munitions in the world, including the Meteor Beyond Visual Range missile and IRIS-T, Gripen E is a multi-role powerhouse. It can seamlessly switch between air-to-air combat, ground attack, and reconnaissance, offering a one-jet solution for a wide range of mission profiles.

Force Readiness Redefined

Unlike many of its competitors, Gripen E was engineered for fast turnarounds and low maintenance burdens. In under 20 minutes, it can be refueled and rearmed for a new mission using minimal ground support. Its ability to launch from dispersed, rugged road bases makes it ideal for asymmetric warfare or operations in contested environments.

Future-Proof Architecture

Gripen E’s open software design isn’t just innovative—it’s revolutionary. Traditional fighter upgrades require years of development and recertification. Gripen breaks this cycle by separating mission system software from flight-critical systems, allowing updates to be deployed in hours rather than years. The result? A jet that evolves with every new threat and technology.

Gripen Maritime: Naval Power Takes Off

As air forces modernize, navies are also looking skyward. Enter Gripen Maritime, the naval variant of the E-series. With a marinized GE F414G engine and compact, robust design for CATOBAR and STOBAR carriers, it brings the same survivability, flexibility, and low lifecycle costs to aircraft carrier operations. Its corrosion-resistant design and simplified maintenance model mean navies can now deploy with reduced personnel and logistics—a rare edge in modern naval aviation.

Combat-Proven Trust, Global Momentum

With 96 Gripen E-series aircraft on order—60 by Sweden and 36 by Brazil—the aircraft is proving its value among forward-thinking defense forces. Brazil’s first flight of its Gripen E variant was a symbolic moment: not just the birth of a new fighter, but the rise of a more adaptable, data-driven era of aerial combat.

In a world of shifting threats and technological arms races, the Gripen E-series isn’t playing catch-up—it’s setting the pace. Whether in the air, at sea, or in cyberspace, this platform empowers pilots with decisive information, overwhelming agility, and unmatched survivability. It’s not just a game-changer. It’s the new rulebook.

Gripen E-Series Variants (E, F, and Maritime)