NATO member Sweden took delivery of a modernized version of its highly touted, domestically built multirole jet fighter on Monday. At a ceremony attended by Minister of Defense Pål Jonson at the Skaraborg Air Wing (F 7) in Såtenäs, the Swedish Air Force (SwAF) received its first Saab JAS 39 Gripen E.

“Gripen E is an example of Sweden’s technological edge, and a modern combat aircraft that, in almost every respect, is entirely new,” Jonson wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “The aircraft includes advanced electronic-warfare systems and can receive new software updates within hours. This enables rapid innovation and flexibility. Gripen E is also being tested with AI capabilities that have attracted international attention.”

Stockholm first ordered a batch of 60 new JAS 39 Gripen E aircraft in 2013, but the new aircraft’s production faced multiple delays, including software development and integration challenges. There had also been budgetary pressure, but the Swedish military put an emphasis on the aircraft following Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022—which also resulted in the historically neutral Nordic country joining NATO.

“This........

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