Key Points and Summary – After nearly three decades of service, Sweden’s JAS-39 Gripen fighter has finally seen its first combat.
-In a recent border skirmish, the Royal Thai Air Force used its Gripens to conduct airstrikes against Cambodian artillery positions near a contested temple.
-The Mach 2, highly maneuverable fighter was designed for a potential war with Russia, emphasizing dispersed operations from austere locations like public roads.
-Its successful combat debut in the jungles of Southeast Asia is a powerful testament to the aircraft’s versatility and effectiveness, solidifying its reputation as a top-tier, cost-effective fighter on the global market.
Sweden’s JAS 39 Gripen Gets Its Baptism of Fire in Thailand
The JAS 39, often just called the Gripen, earned its baptism of fire after nearly 30 years of active service, as Thailand had border skirmishes with Cambodia.
The Gripen is a fast, highly maneuverable, multi-role fighter aircraft developed by Sweden. It’s known for its cost-efficient operation, advanced avionics, and agility.
Saab has done a great job of marketing the aircraft, and the Gripen has become a big seller in foreign markets. The Gripen E fighter jet has completed a series of test flights piloted by artificial intelligence, marking a significant milestone in aerial combat technology.
It perfectly represents the Swedish defensive philosophy, emphasizing dispersed air operations and rapid maintenance. It was built for a possible war with Russia, but proved its worth half a world away in Thailand.
The Need For Speed: The JAS 39 Gripen Powers Along At Mach 2
The JAS 39 Gripen has an outstanding power-to-weight ratio, being powered by a single General Electric F414 turbofan engine, and can reach maximum speeds of Mach 2 (approximately 1,500 miles per hour).
The F414-GE-39E, a single-engine variant of the proven F414-GE-400, has been chosen to power Saab’s Next Generation Gripen aircraft.
The General Electric engine allows the Gripen E to supercruise without having to engage the afterburners. GE has said that utilizing new fuels would increase the range by up to 20 percent.
The F414 engine features 3D aerodynamics, an improved high-pressure turbine, and an advanced cooling system (16 percent more airflow than the F404 fan). The JAS-39E’s ferry range is 2,000 miles, but its combat range is 930 miles.
The JAS 39 Gripen E incorporates cutting-edge technologies, the latest systems, sensors, weapons, and pods to deliver air superiority in highly contested environments.
Silent networking and total sensor fusion across a tactical air unit to blind and confuse the enemy, according to Saab.
The Gripen is Perfectly Suited For War Anywhere
Saab developed the Gripen E as the centerpiece of Sweden’s Bas 90 air basing system, which eschews large, centralized air bases in favor of small groups of aircraft dispersed throughout the country. This makes them harder to target and hit with missiles targeting airfields.
The Bas 90 defense program is taken from lessons learned from the 1967 Six-Day War, in which the Israeli Air Force destroyed virtually the entire Egyptian fleet of aircraft, as well as dozens of other aircraft in other Arab countries.
If a shooting war with Russia happens, the Swedes have done their research and homework, resulting in a strategy that works perfectly for them.
Bas 90 reduces the risk of having their aircraft taken out on the ground by its nationwide network of small, austere air bases. Gripens can leverage public roads to land and take off at these dispersed locations, needing just a 500-meter strip of pavement. A good thrust-to-weight ratio, robust landing gear, and flight control systems aid this.
And as it has shown, the Gripen is easily adaptable to any climate, from the frozen northlands of Sweden to the hot, steamy jungle environments of Southeast Asia.
In 4 Words: Gripen Goes to War
A pair of JAS 39C/D models operated by the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) with two F-16A/B models conducted airstrikes at Cambodian forces, asserting that these actions constitute legitimate self-defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
Air Marshal Prapas Sornjaidee, spokesperson for the Air Force, clarified that the RTAF had provided continuous support to the Royal Thai Army between 24th and 28th July 2025.
The fighting began after a border flare-up over the 11th-century Hindu temple of Preah Vihear.
The two sides have each laid claim to the temple for over a century, and this latest fighting began when Thailand claimed that Cambodia fired indirect artillery into Thai territory.
The RTAF responded with air strike sorties made by the Gripens and the F-16s against Cambodian military targets near the contested border. NationThailand reported that two strikes were carried out on Saturday, targeting artillery positions. The aircraft reportedly carried Mk 82-class general-purpose bombs, possibly equipped with South Korean-developed GPS-Guided Bomb glide kits.
This was the JAS 39 Gripen’s first action in combat.
Aviation Week Network’s “Fleet database” noted that the RTAF currently operates 11 JAS-39C/D fighters, all based at Surat Thani AB in the south of the country. Additionally, Thailand operates a fleet of 36 single-seat F-16A Fighting Falcons and 14 two-seat F-16B fighters.
With the older F-16s readying for retirement, Thailand is looking at replacing them with the Saab Gripen. They are expected to procure 12 to 14 more Gripens in batches of four over the next few years.
The JAS 39 Gripen Is An Outstanding Fighter
The aircraft doesn’t have stealth features, so it uses jamming and countermeasures to protect itself, whereas the stealth of other fighters, such as the F-35, is invisible to radar.
As we have often posted here, the Gripen is the best fighter aircraft not named the F-22 or F-35. It is a badass fighter ideally suited to Sweden’s defensive strategy.
About the Author: Stephen Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
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