Swedish multirole combat aircraft SAAB JAS 39 Gripen C COBI 5828 - Armed Forces

You know that:

• The Gripen aircraft were developed as a successor to the retiring Draken and Viggen aircraft, also of Swedish manufacture.
• The Swedish government initially considered buying US F-16 fighters, but after benchmarking trials decided to develop its own aircraft that would be more suited to the needs of a country with a smaller economy.
• The Swedish Air Force command set several prerequisites that had to be met unconditionally, such as extremely high reliability, low maintenance and operating costs, high climb rate, low radar reflectivity and online communication between the aircraft.
• The first Gripen flight took place on 9 December 1988.
• The fighter was designed to be deployed in any weather or time of day or night.
• Despite the fact that the aircraft was built in the 1980s, 30% of the aircraft's structure is made of advanced composite materials.
• The Gripen is undergoing continuous upgrades to maintain the machine's high combat capabilities, but the 1980s design has its limits. Probably the last generation will be the JAS-39E, which will already be replaced by the modern 5th generation Tempst fighter being worked on by UK, Italian and Swedish developers.
• It takes 8,000 hours of work to produce one aircraft.
• Saab's production line is only 100 metres long.
• The price of one aircraft is 50 million USD depending on the equipment.
• Since 2004, 14 aircraft have also been operated by the 211th Tiger Squadron of the Air Force of the Army of the Czech Republic.

Technical parameters:

• dimensions: span 8.4 m, length 14.1 m, height 4.5 m
• weight 6 800 kg empty 
• power unit Volvo Aero RM12 jet engine 54 kN (max. 80.5 kN)
• fuel tank capacity 3 000 kg
• maximum speed 2 204 km/h
• climb rate 300 m/s
• maximum flight level 16 500 m
• operational range 800 km, maximum range 3 200 km
• armament built-in Mauser BK-27 27 mm calibre cannon (120 rounds) + missiles in suspension up to 5 300 kg
• crew 1 person