Development of the JAS 39 Gripen (JAS = Jakt/Attack/Spaning =
Fighter/Attack/Reconnaissance; Gripen = Griffon) began in 1980.  It is a
light multirole fighter, intended to gradually replace all versions of the
Saab 35 Draken and Saab 37 Viggen in Flygvapnet (Swedish AF) service;
development and production is carried out by IG-JAS, a consortium led by
Saab.

The first prototype flew on 9 December 1988; development has been delayed
by the loss of two aircraft in crashes attributed to faults in the digital
flight control software.  The programme remains intact, however, and the
Swedish government has confirmed its order for two initial batches
totalling 140 aircraft (126 JAS 39A single-seat aircraft and 14 two-seat
JAS 39B conversion training aircraft).

Saab has high hopes for export success with the Gripen; the Swedish
government has agreed to a slight relaxation of the export restrictions
that made the Viggen a non-starter outside Sweden.  An agreement with
Britain was signed in February 1994, under which British Aerospace (which
assisted Saab in the design of the Gripen) will market the aircraft; BAe
will probably also be involved in production.

An advanced JAS 39C version, with improved avionics and more powerful
engines, is under development, and will probably be ordered as a third
batch; the Flygvapnet originally planned to buy a total of 358 Gripens, but
is expected to end up with 250 to 300.

Vital statistics (JAS 39):  length 14.15 m, span 8.40 m, empty weight 5800
kg, max weight 9526 kg, max speed 2336 km/h (Mach 2.2), range 600 km; power
plant:  one 80.50 kN Volvo Flygmotor RM12 augmented turbofan; armament:
27mm cannon, wingtip AAM rails, 6 hardpoints.