Saab Gripen (World Fighter Aircraft Collection)

A Saab JAS 39 Gripen ("griffon") of the Czech Air Force coming in for a landing during the 2006 Czech International Air Fair.

The Gripen is a member of the latest generation of light fighters, designed by the Saab aerospace company of Sweden.   Saab has a long history of developing fighters, starting with the unusual Saab 21, which shared the twin-boom configuration of aircraft like the Venom, but used a single pusher propeller.   In a major redevelopment after the war the piston engine was replaced by a jet to produce the Saab 21R.   A string of other jet fighters followed over the years, comprising the Saab 29 Tunnan, Saab 32 Lansen, Saab 35 Draken, Saab 37 Viggen and finally the Gripen.