Hungary has completed its procurement of additional Gripen fighter aircraft after receiving the final two JAS 39 Gripen C jets from Saab under a contract signed in 2024.
The aircraft were delivered to Kecskemét Air Base, concluding the delivery schedule that began with the arrival of the first two fighters in April. The latest additions expand Hungary’s Gripen fleet to a total of 18 aircraft, comprising 16 Gripen C combat aircraft and two Gripen D trainer variants. The fleet plays a central role in protecting Hungarian sovereign airspace and contributing to NATO’s collective air defense missions.
The Gripen C and Gripen D variants are largely identical in terms of design and performance. Both aircraft measure roughly 14 meters in length with an 8-meter wingspan and have a maximum takeoff weight of approximately 14 metric tons.
Powered to achieve speeds of up to Mach 2, the aircraft have an operational ceiling of 16,000 meters and a maximum range of around 2,200 nautical miles. The principal difference between the two variants lies in crew configuration, with the Gripen C featuring a single-seat cockpit and the Gripen D incorporating a two-seat arrangement.
While the Gripen C is designed primarily for frontline combat operations, the Gripen D serves advanced pilot training roles and supports complex missions requiring a dedicated weapons systems operator. Both variants remain fully combat-capable and can deploy a wide range of air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons, including the AIM-120 AMRAAM, Meteor, IRIS-T, AIM-9 Sidewinder, AGM-65 Maverick missiles, and precision-guided laser bombs.
