Saab’s Twin-Seat Gripen F Completes First Flight, Brazil the Launch Customer

Saab’s twin-seat Gripen F, the two-seat variant of the Gripen E fighter, completed its maiden flight on August 28, 2026. The aircraft took off at 09:40 local time from Saab’s airfield in Linköping, Sweden, and landed safely after a 40-minute sortie. The flight is a milestone for the variant, which was co-developed with Brazil — the launch customer for the two-seat configuration.

At a Glance

• Date: August 28, 2026, Linköping, Sweden.
• Duration: 40 minutes, takeoff at 09:40 local time.
• Pilots: Saab chief test pilot Jakob Högberg and Brazilian Air Force test pilot Lt. Col. Abdon de Rezende Vasconcelos.
• Launch customer: Brazil — the twin-seat variant was co-developed jointly with Sweden.
• Verified: Core aircraft systems and initial flight performance.
• Next: A progressive envelope-expansion campaign covering speed, altitude, G-load and angle of attack, plus evaluation of rear-cockpit-specific tactical functions.

Background

Gripen F largely retains the airframe and avionics architecture of the single-seat Gripen E while adding a second cockpit for training and dual-crew missions. Brazil already operates the single-seat Gripen E in its inventory; the partnership between Saab and Embraer under the F-X2 programme also involves local production of certain components in Brazil. The maiden flight verified the aircraft’s core system functions and basic takeoff-landing performance; the test campaign now moves into progressively expanding performance limits — speed, altitude, G-load and angle of attack — while separately evaluating rear-cockpit tactical functions such as instructor control and second-crew sensor/weapons management.

The Gripen family positions itself in the global market as a relatively low-operating-cost, flexible platform for medium-sized air forces, with operators spanning Sweden, Brazil, South Africa and Thailand, among others.

Regional Impact

The Gripen family serves as an important reference point in the global market for medium-sized air forces weighing 4.5-generation versus fifth-generation options — a useful data point for understanding the competitive landscape that Türkiye’s own indigenous fighter, TUSAŞ KAAN (TF-X), will operate in. While KAAN positions itself with fifth-generation characteristics, proven and comparatively economical platforms like the Gripen E/F still offer an attractive middle path for some prospective buyers. The two programmes address somewhat different budget and operational profiles, meaning they could occasionally compete in the same export tenders down the line. How Gripen F’s test campaign unfolds will also be watched as a reference by other programmes planning similar twin-seat/training variants.

FAQ

Is Gripen F a different aircraft from Gripen E? No — it is the two-seat version of the same platform, sharing most of the airframe and avionics architecture.

When will Brazil receive the aircraft? No firm delivery date has been announced; progressive envelope-expansion testing continues following the first flight.

Is Gripen F operational yet? Not yet — this is the initial phase of production acceptance flights, with performance-limit verification and tactical testing still under way.

Sources

• The Aviationist, “Gripen F Flies for the First Time” (August 28, 2026)
• Saab press room, “Saab presents first Gripen F”
• The War Zone (TWZ), “Saab’s Gripen F Two-Seater Takes To The Air For The First Time”