Saab Gripen JAS 39B

The two-seat fighter variant built for training and operational flexibility

Overview

Saab Gripen Sweden 1996–Present $61 million

The Saab Gripen JAS 39B is the two-seat version of Sweden’s multirole Gripen fighter. Developed to support advanced training and conversion, it retains full combat capability while adding a second cockpit position. The aircraft reflects Sweden’s emphasis on adaptable, network-enabled air power.

Specifications

Units
Engine
1 × Volvo Aero RM12 turbofan
Engine type
Turbofan
Thrust
12,100 lbf · 54 kN
Avionics
—
Wing tips
No winglets
Seats
2
Crew
—
Cabin width
—
Cabin height
—
Cabin length
—
Exterior length
17 ft 11 in  ·  5.46 m
Tail height
—
Fuselage diameter
—
Wing span
19 ft 11 in  ·  6.07 m
Baggage volume
—
Gross weight
—
Empty weight
—
Max takeoff weight
68,000 lb  ·  30,900 kg
Max landing weight
—
Max payload
14,300 lb  ·  6,500 kg
Fuel capacity
20 gal · 100 L · 100 kg (Jet A)
Max cruise speed
160 kt  ·  184 mph  ·  296 km/h
Maximum speed
—
Cruise speed
—
Approach speed
—
Range
1,728 nm  ·  1,990 mi  ·  3,200 km
Fuel burn
13.73 nm/gal  ·  6.72 km/L
Ceiling
17,000 ft  ·  5,200 m
Rate of climb
12 ft/min  ·  0 m/s
Takeoff distance
800 ft  ·  240 m
Landing distance
600 ft  ·  180 m
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Saab JAS 39 Gripen

Operational Context

Saab Gripen JAS 39B — two-seat multirole fighter trainer

The Saab Gripen program began in the early 1980s to replace Sweden’s aging Draken and Viggen fleets with a single multirole platform capable of fighter, attack, and reconnaissance missions. The baseline JAS 39A first flew in 1988 and entered service in the mid-1990s. The two-seat JAS 39B followed as a conversion and operational training variant, retaining combat systems while adding a second cockpit in a stretched fuselage.

Powered by a Volvo RM12 turbofan producing approximately 18,000 pounds of thrust (80 kN) with afterburner, the aircraft is capable of speeds up to Mach 2. It has a combat radius of roughly 430 nautical miles (800 km), depending on mission profile. The airframe incorporates relaxed stability and fly-by-wire controls, enabling high agility and short-field performance from dispersed road bases, a key element of Swedish defense doctrine.

The JAS 39B entered Swedish Air Force service in the late 1990s and has also supported export customers transitioning to the Gripen platform. While later Gripen C and D models introduced NATO compatibility and expanded avionics, the 39B played a crucial role in maturing the system. It demonstrated that a compact, cost-conscious fighter could maintain modern multirole capability without the logistical footprint of larger aircraft.

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