Saab The assembly of the first and a total of four new JAS 39C Gripen fighter jets has been completed. This batch of fighters will be delivered to the Hungarian Air Force to gradually strengthen the country’s air combat capabilities against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical sensitivity on Europe’s eastern flank.
Photos of the aircraft were released by the Hungarian Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.
This batch of new fighters was ordered in February 2024 and is a supplement to the contract signed between the Hungarian government and the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration in December 2001. This contract laid the foundation for strategic cooperation between Budapest and Stockholm in the field of air defense. Currently, Hungary operates a total of 14 aircraft Gripen The fighters – 12 single-seat JAS 39Cs and 2 two-seat JAS 39Ds – were initially acquired through leasing.
Under current terms, the entire Gripen fleet will officially be transferred to Hungarian ownership in 2026. Saab will be responsible for logistical support, maintenance and technical assistance until at least 2036, ensuring the operational continuity of the fleet in the medium to long term.
While expanding the fleet, Hungary’s Gripen fighter jets are also being modernized and upgraded in accordance with a contract signed with the Ministry of Defense in August 2021. The upgrade includes the installation of an improved PS-05/Mk4 radar and upgrading the mission software to MS 20 Block 2 standards to enhance interoperability with NATO forces and improve effectiveness in modern combat scenarios.
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Capacity enhancement also extends to weapons and equipment, and Hungary has ordered from Germany in December 2021 IRIS-T Air-to-air missiles are included in the equipment.
The geopolitical dimension of the program was particularly highlighted in September 2025, when Hungarian JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets intercepted Russian military aircraft over the Baltic Sea during a NATO air alert mission. The Russian planes turned off radio communications while flying and did not submit a flight plan, underscoring the importance of Allied forces maintaining air vigilance in the region.
The advancement of Hungary’s Gripen program reflects military modernization, a commitment to NATO’s collective defense, and deepening cooperation with Sweden at the industrial and strategic levels; it also comes amid a chronically tense European security environment.
Sources and pictures:Militarnyi|Hungarian Embassy in Stockholm (Facebook @HunEmbassy.Stockholm). This content is produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
