Ruben With precision, passion, and a touch of smoke.
Meet Ruben “Smokey” – our F7 Gripen display pilot With precision, passion, and a touch of smoke, Smokey brings the power of the JAS 39 Gripen to the skies of VSwAF Representing F7 Wing, his displays showcase the speed, agility, and elegance of Swedish airpower – from razor-sharp turns to crazy flybys.
About JAS 39 Gripen C & its role
The Saab JAS 39 Gripen C is a modern, single-engine multirole fighter aircraft developed by the Swedish company Saab. It is part of the Gripen family and represents the second production series, following the earlier A and B versions.
The Gripen C was designed to meet both Swedish defense needs and international requirements. Compared to the Gripen A, it features upgraded avionics, a modernized cockpit, NATO-compatible communication systems, and in-flight refueling capability. The first Gripen C aircraft entered service with the Swedish Air Force in 2002.
In terms of design, the Gripen C uses a delta wing with close-coupled canards, giving it excellent agility. Its digital fly-by-wire system ensures stable handling despite its relaxed static stability. The aircraft measures about 14.1 meters in length, with a wingspan of 8.4 meters, and has a maximum takeoff weight of approximately 14,000 kilograms. It is specifically built for operations from short and dispersed runways, a key element of Swedish defense doctrine.
The fighter is powered by the Volvo RM12 turbofan engine, a Swedish-built version of the General Electric F404. This engine provides about 80 kN of thrust with afterburner, allowing the Gripen C to reach speeds up to Mach 2. Its ferry range is roughly 3,200 kilometers with external fuel tanks.
Avionics include the PS-05/A radar, capable of both air-to-air and air-to-ground modes, along with a NATO-standard datalink and an advanced electronic warfare suite. The cockpit features three multifunction displays and a wide-angle head-up display, giving the pilot excellent situational awareness.
The Gripen C carries a wide variety of weapons. Its built-in armament is a 27 mm Mauser BK-27 cannon. In addition, it has seven external hardpoints for air-to-air missiles like the AIM-120 AMRAAM, IRIS-T, Sidewinder, and Meteor, as well as air-to-surface weapons such as AGM-65 Maverick missiles, precision-guided bombs, and the Swedish RBS-15 anti-ship missile. It can also be equipped with reconnaissance and targeting pods.
Several nations operate the Gripen C. In addition to Sweden, it is used by the air forces of the Czech Republic, Hungary, South Africa, and Thailand. It has also been deployed in NATO missions, such as Baltic Air Policing and operations over Libya in 2011.
The Gripen C is regarded as one of the most cost-effective modern fighters, combining advanced capabilities with relatively low operating costs. This balance has made it attractive to smaller air forces seeking a capable yet affordable multirole jet.