Saab Completes First Flight of Two-Seat Gripen F Variant in Linköping
Why It MattersTwo-seat fighter variants typically enter flight test after the single-seat baseline is established, so this milestone signals the Gripen E program's maturation toward broader export and training configurations.
What happened
Saab has completed the first flight of the Gripen F, the two-seat variant of the Gripen E fighter aircraft. The aircraft took off from Saab's airfield in Linköping, Sweden, and remained airborne for 40 minutes.
The flight was flown by Saab chief test pilot Jakob Högberg and Brazilian Air Force test pilot Lieutenant Colonel Aviator Abdon de Rezende Vasconcelos. The inaugural sortie verified the functionality of the aircraft's core systems and its initial flight performance.
Industry impact & what to watch
A first flight of a two-seat derivative typically follows validation of the single-seat baseline, marking the point where a fighter program extends into training and dual-crew configurations sought by export customers. The presence of a Brazilian Air Force test pilot alongside Saab's chief test pilot points to direct customer involvement in verifying the new variant's systems.
What comes into view next is the pace of the follow-on test campaign confirming handling qualities and systems integration across further sorties, and any statements from Saab or the Brazilian Air Force on schedule or delivery milestones for the Gripen F.
