Saab has completed the first flight of Gripen F, the two-seat variant of Gripen E, at its airfield in Linköping, Sweden. The aircraft took off at 09:40 local time and remained airborne for 40 minutes.

The sortie was flown by Saab chief test pilot Jakob Högberg and Brazilian Air Force test pilot Lieutenant Colonel Aviator Abdon de Rezende Vasconcelos. It verified the functionality of the aircraft's core systems and its initial flight performance, opening the airborne phase of the Gripen F test campaign.

Lars Tossman, head of Saab business area Aeronautics, says: “This first flight represents an important step forward for both Saab and the Brazilian Air Force. Seeing Gripen F take to the skies is particularly significant for all the Swedish and Brazilian teams whose years of engineering work have helped turn this aircraft into a reality. It is designed to accelerate pilot training while enhancing operational performance in advanced combat missions.”

Following the initial production acceptance flights, the programme will move into a progressive envelope expansion phase in which the aircraft's full performance limits, including speed, altitude, G-load and angle of attack, will be cleared step by step. Tactical capabilities and rear-cockpit functions specific to the two-seat configuration will also be evaluated in parallel.

Gripen F has been developed through technology transfer under the Brazilian Gripen Programme, with more than 350 Brazilian engineers, technicians and pilots taking part in development, production, flight test and maintenance training. As launch customer, Brazil has played an active role in co-developing the two-seat variant, with direct industrial participation. The campaign is being conducted by Saab's Flight Test Centre in Sweden; once acceptance procedures are complete, Gripen F will be prepared for delivery to the Brazilian Air Force.