On October 17, 2007, a contract was signed between Saab and Sweden's Försvarets Materielverk (FMV) to upgrade 31 Swedish Air Force JAS 39A/B Gripen to the latest C/D standard. The contract also included the go-ahead for the demonstrator programme for future development, ordering one demonstrator aircraft and a ground-based avionics rig.

The upgrade contract follows last year's decision by the Swedish government approving the programme to ensure commonality of the Swedish Air Force Gripens. Only the engine, radar and various other components of the 31 existing aircraft will be retained, which will be fitted in new-build airframes to ensure uniformity with the C/D fleet.

The demonstrator programme will show Gripen´s future capabilities, including increased thrust delivered by GE / Volvo Aero F414G engine, new active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, increased range, increased payload capabilities and enhanced avionics.

Headlines

Final Three Gripen Fighters Delivered to Hungary (13 Dec 2007)
Swedish Air Force Gripen Upgrade Contract Finalized (17 Oct 2007)
Swedish Air Force Gripen Gets Cobra Helmet-Mounted Display (03 Oct 2007)
Two More Hungarian Gripen Fighters Delivered (13 Aug 2007)
SAAB Selected GE F414G Engine for New Gripen Variant (02 Jul 2007)
Second Meteor missile firings with Gripen completed (21 Jun 2006)
First Five Gripen Fighters have arrived in Hungary (22 Mar 2006)
Maiden Flight First South African Gripen (11 Nov 2005)
First South African Gripen Roll-out (29 Oct 2005)
First Flight Dual Seat Hungarian Gripen (28 Oct 2005)
Final Czech Gripens Delivered (31 Aug 2005)
First Flight Czech Two-seat Gripen (21 Apr 2005)
First Six Gripen Arrive in Czech Republic (18 Apr 2005)
Hungarian Saab Gripen First Flight (20 Feb 2005)
First Hungarian Gripen Ready (25 Jan 2005)
Celebration of the First Czech Republic Gripen aircraft (15 Dec 2004)
Maiden Flight of First Czech Gripen (18 Oct 2004)