Gripen Fighter Jet Sees First Combat Over Cambodia Border
Thai Air Force Strikes Mark Milestone for Swedish-Made Aircraft
After nearly four decades of service, the JAS 39 Gripen fighter jet has finally experienced live combat. Its inaugural strike mission occurred not in European skies, but along the volatile Cambodia-Thailand border amidst intense clashes.
Gripen Unleashed in Border Conflict
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) deployed its Gripen C/D jets on July 26, targeting Cambodian artillery positions near the Phu Ma Kua ridge and the Ta Muen Thom temple. These decisive sorties marked the first time the Swedish-engineered multirole aircraft engaged in an active combat mission.
Until this engagement, the Gripen had primarily patrolled skies rather than battled within them. Despite its 1996 entry into service with Sweden and subsequent deployments by nations like Thailand, South Africa, and others, it had never fired weapons in a real-world conflict scenario. Its closest encounter with combat was during NATO’s 2011 Libya intervention, where Swedish Gripens flew only reconnaissance missions.
A Fighter Awaiting its Moment
The Gripen, conceived by SAAB as a lightweight, cost-efficient, and advanced fourth-generation fighter, first flew in 1988. It entered Swedish service in 1996, noted for its adaptability and modern avionics in later C/D and E/F variants.
Thailand acquired its Gripen fleet starting in 2011, receiving 11 C/D models. This order made Thailand one of the Gripen’s first international customers outside Europe. The aircraft have been stationed at Wing 7, Surat Thani Air Base, forming a crucial part of Thailand’s tactical fighter strength.
While Gripens have supported NATO’s deterrence efforts, including deployments to Poland, they remained the last Western fourth-generation fighter never to see combat until this event. The Thai air strikes decisively altered that distinction.
Thailand’s Tactical Advantage
Thailand is also advancing its air power, planning to acquire 12 next-generation Gripen E/F fighters, with an initial order of four expected soon. This acquisition would make Thailand the first Southeast Asian nation to operate the enhanced Gripen E variant.
The combat debut has significantly highlighted the technological gap with Cambodia, whose air force is largely comprised of older transport, training, and utility aircraft, including Cold War-era L-39C trainers. Cambodia possesses no dedicated fighter jets capable of challenging Thailand’s air superiority.
“We are, of course, following the development and naturally hope for a peaceful solution to the conflict as soon as possible. Questions about how Thailand uses its Gripen aircraft must be addressed to the Thai authorities.”
—Mattias Radstrom, SAAB Spokesperson
Sweden’s Foreign Ministry has acknowledged the Gripen’s operational use. A government spokesperson indicated that future export decisions, including the planned Gripen E/F order, will undergo review by the Inspectorate for Strategic Products (ISP) based on current regulations and circumstances.
Global Market Implications
The Gripen’s operational debut is anticipated to bolster SAAB’s international marketing efforts for the Gripen E/F. With current operators including Sweden, Brazil, Thailand, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, and potential deals with Colombia and Peru, this combat validation could prove influential in upcoming procurement competitions.
In 2023, for instance, the Swedish Air Force reported that its Gripen fleet had accumulated over 250,000 flight hours, underscoring the aircraft’s extensive operational pedigree even before this combat mission (SAAB).
Maria Malmer Stenergard, Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, confirmed awareness of the Gripen’s involvement. She reiterated that any future sales would be subject to rigorous assessment under Sweden’s stringent arms control policies, with the ISP playing a crucial role in evaluating such transactions.
SAAB maintains a policy of not commenting on specific operational uses of its equipment, emphasizing its hope for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
