Editing Saab JAS 39 Gripen (section)

===Origins===
In the late 1970s, Sweden sought to replace its aging [[Saab 35 Draken]] and [[Saab 37 Viggen]].{{Sfn|Frawley|2002|p= 147}} The [[Swedish Air Force]] required an affordable Mach&nbsp;2 aircraft with good short-field performance for a defensive dispersed basing plan in the event of invasion; the plan included 800&nbsp;m long by 17&nbsp;m wide rudimentary runways that were part of the [[Bas 90]] system.<ref>{{cite web |trans-title= Swedish military flight bases |url= https://www.forsvarsmakten.se/siteassets/5-information-och-fakta/historia/vagbaserna/fortv-2007-1.pdf |archive-url= https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.forsvarsmakten.se/siteassets/5-information-och-fakta/historia/vagbaserna/fortv-2007-1.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2022 |url-status=live |title= Svenska militära flygbaser |last= Törnell |first=Bernt |date= 5 February 2007 |language=sv|website= Försvarsmakten}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |trans-title= Air base system 90 |language=sv|url= http://www.fht.nu/Dokument/Flygvapnet/flyg_publ_dok_flygbassystem_90.pdf |archive-url= https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.fht.nu/Dokument/Flygvapnet/flyg_publ_dok_flygbassystem_90.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2022 |url-status=live |title= Flygbassystem 90 |last= Rystedt |first= Jörgen|date= 25 April 2009 |website= FHT}}</ref>{{Sfn |Altaya|2011|loc= ''Características especiais''|ps=: 'O Gripen foi concebido conforme as diretivas da força aérea sueca – a Base 90 – que previa a utilização de pistas rudimentares de 800&nbsp;m de comprimento e 9&nbsp;m de largura… [The Gripen was conceived according to the Base 90 Swedish Air Force directives that foresaw the use of rudimentary runways 800&nbsp;m long and 9&nbsp;m wide…]'}} One goal was for the aircraft to be smaller than the Viggen while equalling or improving on its payload-range characteristics.{{Sfn|Spick|2000|pp= 426–27}} Early proposals included the [[Saab 38]], also called B3LA, intended as an attack aircraft and trainer,{{Sfn|Björeman|2009|pp= 139–49}} and the [[:sv:Saab A 20|A 20]], a development of the Viggen that would have capabilities as a fighter, attack and sea reconnaissance aircraft.<ref>{{cite web |language= sv |place= Sweden |title= Om anslaget Flygvapenförband: Forskning och utveckling | type= government bill |year= 1977–1978 |id= 95 |trans-title= On the appropriation of Air Force Regiments: Research and development |publisher= Riksdagen |url= http://www.riksdagen.se/sv/Dokument-Lagar/Forslag/Propositioner-och-skrivelser/prop-19777895-om-anslaget-Fl_G10395/ |access-date= 30 June 2013 |archive-date= 4 March 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304194924/http://www.riksdagen.se/sv/Dokument-Lagar/Forslag/Propositioner-och-skrivelser/prop-19777895-om-anslaget-Fl_G10395/ |url-status= dead}}</ref> Several foreign designs were also studied, including the [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon]], the [[McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet]],{{Sfn |Williams|2003|p= 72}} the [[Northrop F-20 Tigershark]] and the [[Dassault Mirage 2000]].{{Sfn|Green|Swanborough|1987|p= 225}} Ultimately, the Swedish government opted for a new fighter to be developed by [[Saab Group|Saab]].{{Sfn |Williams|2003|p= 72}}

In 1979, the government began a study calling for a versatile platform capable of "JAS", standing for ''Jakt'' ([[Aerial warfare|air-to-air]]), ''Attack'' ([[ground attack|air-to-surface]]), and ''Spaning'' (reconnaissance), indicating a [[Multirole combat aircraft|multirole]], or swingrole, fighter aircraft that could fulfill multiple roles during the same mission.{{Sfn|Williams|2003|p= 72}} Several Saab designs were reviewed, the most promising being "Project 2105" (redesignated "Project 2108" and, later, "Project 2110"), recommended to the government by the [[Swedish Defence Materiel Administration|Defence Materiel Administration]] (''Försvarets Materielverk'', or FMV).{{Sfn |Williams|2003|p= 72}} In 1980, ''[[Industrigruppen JAS]]'' (''IG JAS'', "JAS Industry Group") was established as a joint venture by [[Saab Group#History|Saab-Scania]], [[LM Ericsson]], [[:sv:Svenska Radioaktiebolaget|Svenska Radioaktiebolaget]], [[Volvo Flygmotor]] and [[:sv:Försvarets Fabriksverk|Försvarets Fabriksverk]], the industrial arm of the Swedish armed forces.<ref>{{Citation |publisher= Svenskt militärhistoriskt bibliotek |url= http://www.smb.nu/index.php/svenska-flygplan/jaktflygplan/612 |place= NU |title= JAS 39A, B 1992– |language= no |url-status= dead |access-date= 30 June 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131219233125/http://www.smb.nu/index.php/svenska-flygplan/jaktflygplan/612 |archive-date= 19 December 2013}}</ref>

The preferred aircraft was a single-engine, lightweight single-seater, embracing [[fly-by-wire]] technology, canards, and an aerodynamically unstable design.{{Sfn|Williams|2003|p= 73}} The powerplant selected was the [[Volvo RM12|Volvo-Flygmotor RM12]], a licence-built derivative of the [[General Electric F404]]−400; engine development priorities were weight reduction and lowering component count.{{Sfn |Williams|2003|p= 73}}{{Sfn |Cross|1986|p= 27}} On 30 June 1982, with approval from the [[Riksdag]],<ref name= grip_so_far>{{cite web |url= http://www.gripen.com/en/GripenFighter/GripenStory.htm |title= Gripen: The Story So Far |work= Gripen International |publisher= Saab |access-date= 14 October 2010 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100127182209/http://www.gripen.com/en/GripenFighter/GripenStory.htm |archive-date= 27 January 2010 |quote= Swedish Parliament approves the program for the development of a new fighter aircraft}}</ref> the FMV issued contracts worth [[Swedish krona|SEK]] 25.7&nbsp;billion to Saab, covering five prototypes and an initial batch of 30 production aircraft.{{Sfn|Williams|2003|pp= 73, 88}}{{Sfn|Keijsper|2003|p= 12}} By January 1983, a Viggen was converted to a flying test aircraft for the JAS&nbsp;39's intended avionics, such as the fly-by-wire controls.<ref>{{Cite magazine |magazine= [[Flight International]] |date= 2–8 January 1983 |url= http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1983/1983%20-%200048.html |title= Viggens test Gripen avionics |location= Surrey, UK |publisher= IPC Transport Press |issue= 3844 |volume= 123 |pages= 64–65 |issn= 0015-3710 |via=Flightglobal/Archive |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131103061346/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1983/1983%20-%200048.html |archive-date= 3 November 2013 |access-date= 19 January 2014 |url-status= dead}}</ref> The JAS&nbsp;39 received the name ''Gripen'' (griffin) via a public competition,{{Sfn|Nilsson|2012}} which is the [[heraldry]] on Saab's logo.{{#tag:ref |Griffin is the animal<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/griffin |title= Griffin |date= 25 January 2019 |publisher= Merriam-Webster |access-date= 4 March 2019 |work= Dictionary |archive-date= 16 April 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170416195001/http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/griffin |url-status= live}}</ref> on the [[coat of arms]] of [[Östergötland]], the province where Saab&nbsp;AB is headquartered ([[Linköping]]).<ref>{{Citation |year= 2010 |url= http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definitions/blazon?cx=partner-pub-0939450753529744%3Av0qd01-tdlq&cof=FORID%3A9&ie=UTF-8&q=blazon&sa=Search#906 | type= definition |contribution= Blazon |publisher= Webster's |edition= online |title= Dictionary |access-date= 20 July 2011 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101215222003/http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definitions/blazon?cx=partner-pub-0939450753529744%3Av0qd01-tdlq&cof=FORID%3A9&ie=UTF-8&q=blazon&sa=Search#922 |archive-date= 15 December 2010}}</ref>|group= Nb}}