A Saab has completed the assembly of the first of four additional JAS 39C Gripen fighters destined for the Hungarian Air Force, gradually expanding the country’s air capacity in a context of growing geopolitical sensitivity on Europe’s eastern flank.
An image of the aircraft was released by the Hungarian Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.
The new fighters were ordered in February 2024 and are in addition to the contract signed in December 2001 between the Hungarian government and the Swedish Defense Materiel Authority, which established the basis of strategic cooperation between Budapest and Stockholm in the air defense sector. Hungary currently operates 14 aircraft Gripen — 12 single-seater JAS 39Cs and two two-seater JAS 39Ds — initially obtained through a leasing agreement.
According to the current terms, the entire Gripen fleet will officially come into Hungarian ownership in 2026. Saab will continue to be responsible for the logistical support, maintenance and technical assistance of the aircraft until at least 2036, ensuring the operational continuity of the fleet in the medium and long term.
In parallel with the increase in the number of aircraft, the Hungarian Gripens are undergoing a modernization process provided for in a contract signed in August 2021 with the Ministry of Defense. The upgrades include the installation of the improved PS-05/Mk4 radar and the upgrade of mission software to the MS 20 Block 2 standard, increasing interoperability with NATO forces and effectiveness in modern combat scenarios.
The strengthening of capabilities also extends to weapons, with the incorporation of air-to-air missiles IRIS-Tordered from Germany in December 2021.
The geopolitical dimension of the program came to the fore in September 2025, when Hungarian JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets intercepted Russian military aircraft over the Baltic Sea, during the NATO Air Policing mission. The Russian aircraft were flying with radio communications turned off and without a flight plan submitted, reinforcing the importance of Allied air readiness in the region.
The advancement of the Hungarian Gripen program reflects the combination of military modernization, commitment to NATO’s collective defense and deepening industrial and strategic cooperation with Sweden, in a European security environment marked by persistent tensions.
Source and images: Militarnyi | Embassy of Hungary, Stockholm – Facebook @HunEmbassy.Stockholm. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
