Saab's two-seat Gripen F fighter completes maiden flight

Saab's Gripen F, the two-seat version developed alongside the single-seat Gripen E, made its first flight from the company's airfield in Linköping, Sweden. According to Saab, the aircraft took off at 9:40 a.m. local time on Friday and stayed airborne for about 40 minutes.

Saab chief test pilot Jakob Högberg flew the jet together with Brazilian Air Force test pilot Lt. Col. Abdon de Rezende Vasconcelos. Saab said the crew used the sortie to check the aircraft's main systems and assess early flight performance.

The next phase will gradually expand the aircraft's flight envelope, according to the company, covering speed, altitude, G-load limits and angle of attack. Saab also plans to evaluate tactical systems and functions tied to the rear cockpit.

Brazil is the launch customer for the Gripen F variant and took part in its development. Under a 2014 contract, Brazil ordered 36 Gripen aircraft in total: 28 single-seat E models and eight two-seat F models. More than 350 Brazilian engineers, technicians and pilots have taken part in training linked to the program, Saab said, covering production, flight testing and maintenance work.

The first Gripen F is expected to go to the Brazilian Air Force once it completes its planned flight-test and acceptance program, Saab said. The announcement did not give a timeline for that delivery.