Saab’s Gripen F two-seat multirole fighter has completed its first flight at the company’s airfield in Linköping, Sweden. The aircraft is being developed jointly with Brazil as part of the two countries’ long-running Gripen program.The maiden sortie was conducted by Saab chief test pilot Jakob Högberg together with Brazilian Air Force test pilot Lt. Colonel Aviator Abdon de Rezende Vasconcelos. The aircraft remained airborne for 40 minutes while the pilots assessed its core systems and initial flight performance.The flight occurred roughly two months after Saab unveiled the first Gripen F in early June. The program will now progress into a progressive flight-envelope expansion phase. During this stage, engineers and test crews will evaluate and clear the aircraft across different speeds, altitudes, G-loads and angles of attack.The testing will also focus on tactical capabilities and the functionality of the aircraft’s rear cockpit, which is a defining feature of the two-seat Gripen F configuration.Saab and Brazil signed an agreement in 2014 covering the development and production of 36 Gripen fighters. The package consists of 28 single-seat Gripen E aircraft and eight two-seat Gripen F aircraft.Brazil has continued to expand its role in the program. The first Gripen E produced in Brazil was unveiled in March 2026. Three months later, Brasília indicated an interest in purchasing an additional 20 Gripen aircraft, with those jets also expected to be manufactured domestically.The Gripen F retains the mission systems and performance characteristics of the Gripen E while incorporating a second cockpit. This configuration is intended to support advanced pilot training while also allowing the aircraft to perform complex combat missions.Brazil is not the only international operator involved with the aircraft family. Colombia and Thailand have also placed orders for the Swedish-Brazilian Gripen platform.
