Image: Saab
Hungary has taken delivery of two new Saab Gripen C fighters, the first instalment of a four-aircraft order placed with Sweden’s defence procurement agency in early 2024.
The Hungarian Defence Forces received the aircraft at Kecskemét Air Base, home of the 101st Aviation Wing. The delivery fulfils the initial tranche of a contract signed in February 2024 between the Hungarian Ministry of Defence and FMV, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, according to Saab.
Hungary has operated the Gripen platform since 2006. The new agreement brings Budapest’s total fleet to 18 Gripen C/D aircraft, all upgraded to the latest configuration. The remaining two jets from the current order are expected to follow.
A Long-Term Partnership Deepens
Saab’s head of Aeronautics, Lars Tossman, framed the delivery as part of a broader strategic relationship. “With a committed, long-term modernisation programme, and thanks to Saab’s preparedness to invest in an Aviation Development Centre in the country, Hungary will, as a partner to Saab and Sweden, be able to influence, develop and benefit from the continuous development and operation of the Gripen system,” Tossman said.
The planned Aviation Development Centre signals industrial as well as operational depth. Hungary would gain a domestic role in Gripen’s ongoing evolution, a notable shift from pure operator to active development partner.
NATO Context and Regional Significance
Hungary’s continued investment in the Gripen comes amid sustained pressure on NATO allies to modernise air combat capabilities. Budapest’s choice to deepen its Gripen commitment, rather than pursue alternative platforms such as the F-16 selected by several Central and Eastern European neighbours, reinforces the Gripen’s position as a competitive option for mid-tier NATO air forces.
Sweden’s accession to NATO in March 2024 adds a fresh dimension to the Hungary-Saab relationship. Both nations now sit within the same alliance framework, strengthening the political and industrial logic of long-term cooperation on a jointly operated platform.
Industrial Implications for Saab
For Saab, the on-schedule delivery carries commercial weight. The Swedish defence group has positioned the Gripen E/F as its next-generation export product, and demonstrating reliable delivery performance to existing C/D customers supports that pitch. Hungary’s sustained commitment also keeps the Gripen ecosystem active at a time when Saab is competing in several active fighter procurement contests internationally.
Saab employs around 28,000 people globally and operates across aeronautics, weapons, command and control, sensors and underwater systems. The company supports the domestic defence capability of several nations beyond Sweden.
The two remaining aircraft under Hungary’s current contract are expected to arrive in the coming months, completing the four-jet delivery tranche agreed under the 2024 deal.
Source: Saab Press Release














