Saab Gripen F completes maiden flight in Sweden

Saab’s Gripen F two-seat fighter has completed its maiden flight, marking the start of the aircraft’s airborne test campaign.

The aircraft departed Saab’s airfield at Linköping, Sweden, at 09:40 on 28 August and remained airborne for 40 minutes. It was flown by Saab chief test pilot Jakob Högberg and Brazilian Air Force test pilot Lieutenant Colonel Abdon de Rezende Vasconcelos.

The initial sortie verified the operation of the aircraft’s principal systems and assessed its basic flight performance. Testing will now move towards a gradual expansion of the flight envelope, covering speed, altitude, G-load and angle-of-attack limits.

Saab will also evaluate the fighter’s tactical capabilities and functions specific to its rear cockpit. Based on the single-seat Gripen E, the Gripen F is intended principally to accelerate pilot training while retaining an operational combat capability.

The aircraft was jointly developed by Saab and Brazilian industry under the Brazilian Gripen programme. More than 350 Brazilian engineers, technicians and pilots have received training in areas including development, production, flight testing and maintenance.

Brazil, the launch customer for the two-seat variant, has played an active role in its design through an extensive technology-transfer programme between Brazil and Sweden.

Saab’s Flight Test Centre in Sweden will conduct the test campaign. Following completion of testing, production-acceptance flights and the necessary approval procedures, the aircraft will be prepared for delivery to the Brazilian Air Force.