Aircraft & UAVs

JAS 39 Gripen

The JAS 39 Gripen is Saab's Swedish single-engine multirole fighter, designed for dispersed operations, quick turnaround, and air-to-air or air-to-ground missions. Thailand operates Gripen C/D aircraft, and during the 2025 Thailand-Cambodia Border Conflict the Royal Thai Air Force confirmed Gripen combat-support missions alongside F-16s against Cambodian border positions.

Thailand-Cambodia Border ConflictThailand

Conflict side: Thailand
Built by: Saab
Built in: Sweden

JAS 39 Gripen, Single-engine multirole fighter aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs

Image source: Wikimedia Commons: Royal Thai Air Force Jas-39 D

Profile

Type: Single-engine multirole fighter aircraft
Conflict side: Thailand
Origin: Sweden
Service note: 1990s-present; Thai Gripen C/D combat use documented in 2025

aircraft fighter aircraft strike precision fires air defense

Service History

In service: Entered Swedish service in the 1990s; Thai Gripen C/D fleet entered service in the 2010s
Used by: Royal Thai Air Force, Swedish Air Force
Wars: Thailand-Cambodia Border Conflict

Production History

Designer: Saab and Swedish defense partners
Designed: 1980s
Built by: Saab
Built in: Sweden
Produced: 1987-present
Variants: JAS 39C, JAS 39D, Gripen E/F

Specifications

Crew: 1 in Gripen C; 2 in Gripen D
Length: 14.9 m Gripen C; 15.6 m Gripen D
Wingspan: 8.4 m
Maximum takeoff weight: 14,000 kg for Gripen C/D
Engine thrust: 80.5 kN maximum thrust
Hardpoints: 8 external hardpoints
Gun: 27 mm Mauser BK27 on single-seat Gripen C
Combat turnaround: About 10 minutes

Conflict Usage

Thailand-Cambodia Border Conflict: Side: ThailandRole: Airstrike support against border military positionsstrike precision fires
Royal Thai Air Force Gripens were fielded by Thailand in July 2025 combat support missions with F-16s along the Thai-Cambodian border; reporting described strikes against Cambodian military or artillery positions and RTAF statements framed the missions as self-defense.

JAS 39 Gripen Images

JAS 39 Gripen, Single-engine multirole fighter aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1 — Source: Wikimedia Commons: Royal Thai Air Force Jas-39 D

JAS 39 Gripen, Single-engine multirole fighter aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - view 2 — Source: Wikimedia Commons: Royal Thai Air Force Gripen in Australia

JAS 39 Gripen, Single-engine multirole fighter aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - view 3 — Source: Wikimedia Commons: Saab JAS 39 Gripen at Kaivopuisto Air Show

Related Weapon Systems

AC-130 gunship, Heavily armed fixed-wing gunship, Aircraft & UAVs

Aircraft & UAVsAC-130 gunshipHeavily armed fixed-wing gunshipThe AC-130 gunship is a side-firing U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command attack aircraft family derived from the C-130 Hercules. Modern AC-130U, AC-130W, and AC-130J variants combine sensors, fire-control systems, cannon armament, and precision-guided munitions for close air support, armed reconnaissance, air interdiction, and overwatch, roles documented in Afghanistan during Operation Freedom's Sentinel, Resolute Support, and the Kabul evacuation.

AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, Twin-engine attack helicopter, Aircraft & UAVs

Aircraft & UAVsAH-64 Apache attack helicopterTwin-engine attack helicopterThe AH-64 Apache is a U.S. twin-engine attack helicopter built for armed reconnaissance, close combat, and precision attack missions with a 30 mm chain gun, rockets, and Hellfire missiles. Its recent combat record includes U.S. operations against Iran and documented use by U.S., Israeli, Egyptian, and coalition forces in Afghanistan, Sinai, Lebanon, and Yemen for escort, overwatch, and strike support.

AH-64A Peten attack helicopter, Attack helicopter, Aircraft & UAVs

Aircraft & UAVsAH-64A Peten attack helicopterAttack helicopterThe AH-64A Peten is the Israeli Air Force's Apache attack helicopter, a twin-seat strike platform built around the Apache airframe and used for close support and precision attacks. During the Israel-Hamas War, 190 Squadron Peten crews were part of the October 7 response missions, showing the older AH-64A remained in active combat use.

B-1B Lancer, Long-range, multi-role supersonic bomber, Aircraft & UAVs

Aircraft & UAVsB-1B LancerLong-range, multi-role supersonic bomberThe B-1B Lancer is the U.S. Air Force's long-range, supersonic conventional bomber, built to deliver large payloads of guided and unguided weapons against distant, heavily defended targets. Recent open-source reporting ties the aircraft to Operation Inherent Resolve strikes, Afghan Taliban-target attacks, a U.S. show-of-force flight near Venezuela, and 2026 strikes deep inside Iran during the Israel-Iran Conflict.

CH-4B UAV, Armed reconnaissance UAV, Aircraft & UAVs

Aircraft & UAVsCH-4B UAVArmed reconnaissance UAVThe CH-4B UAV is a Chinese medium-altitude long-endurance armed reconnaissance drone. Iraqi forces fielded it against the Islamic State, and Saudi-led coalition operators used the type in Yemen, where multiple aircraft were reported lost in combat.

Chengdu J-10C, Single-engine multirole fighter aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs

Aircraft & UAVsChengdu J-10CSingle-engine multirole fighter aircraftThe Chengdu J-10C is a Chinese single-engine multirole fighter with AESA radar, modern electronic systems, and compatibility with PL-15 beyond-visual-range missiles. Pakistan's export J-10CE fleet became central to open-source reporting on the 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict, where the aircraft was described as part of Pakistan's long-range air-to-air kill chain against Indian aircraft.

Sources

Saab: Gripen C-seriesPublisher: Saab | Note: Supports Gripen C/D manufacturer background and specifications including crew, dimensions, maximum takeoff weight, hardpoints, thrust, gun fit, and turnaround time. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 Saab: Royal Thai Air Force confirms Gripen E/F selectionPublisher: Saab | Note: Supports Thai Gripen operator context and Saab's description of Gripen E/F as Thailand's selected future multirole fighter. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 The Nation: Thai Air Force deploys F-16s and GripensPublisher: The Nation Thailand | Note: Supports Thailand-Cambodia Border Conflict direct use: Gripen aircraft were fielded by Thailand in RTAF combat support missions along the Thai-Cambodian border. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 Breaking Defense: Thailand's Gripen combat missionPublisher: Breaking Defense | Note: Supports Thailand-Cambodia Border Conflict direct use: RTAF confirmed Saab Gripens were used by Thailand against Cambodia during the July 2025 border fighting. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 Armada International: Gripen's first combat missionsPublisher: Armada International | Note: Supports Thailand-Cambodia Border Conflict direct use: RTAF Gripens were fielded by Thailand in live combat missions and strikes against Cambodian artillery positions. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 Wikimedia Commons: Royal Thai Air Force Jas-39 DPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a Royal Thai Air Force JAS 39D photograph licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 Wikimedia Commons: Royal Thai Air Force Gripen in AustraliaPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a Royal Thai Air Force Gripen photograph licensed CC BY 2.0. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 Wikimedia Commons: Saab JAS 39 Gripen at Kaivopuisto Air ShowPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a JAS 39 Gripen in-flight photograph licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. | Accessed: 2026-06-22