Swedish Air Force inducts Gripen E into service

The first of 60 Gripen E combat aircraft was formally received into service by the Swedish Air Force on 20 October. (Swedish Armed Forces)

The Swedish Air Force (SwAF) has received into service the first Saab JAS 39 Gripen E combat aircraft.

A ceremony to mark the occasion was held on 20 October at Skaraborg Wing (F7), located at Såtenäs in the southwest of Sweden.

“This marks an important milestone in the development of the Swedish Armed Forces. The result of a long-term collaboration and close collaboration between the armed forces, FMV [Swedish Defence Materiel Administration], and Swedish industry. Gripen E strengthens our national defence capability to meet future threats together with allies,” Commander-in-Chief General Michael Claesson said.

F7 is one of four SwAF fighter wings, with the other three being Blekinge Wing (F17) at Ronneby in the far south of Sweden, Norrbotten Wing (F21) also in the north of the country, and Uppsala Wing (F16), also located in southern Sweden.

Each wing is equipped with two squadrons, which are 71 and 72 for F7.

For more information on the SwAF's Gripen E force, please see Sweden maps out Gripen E entry into service .