The Saab JAS 39 Gripen entered service in the second half of the 1990s, representing a significant advancement over its predecessors, such as the long-serving Saab 37 Viggen. The Swedish air superiority and multirole fighter was soon developed in a two-seat version to meet the demands of advanced pilot training. This variant retained essentially the same high performance as the single-seat fighter, while offering greater operational flexibility, enabling it to carry out reconnaissance and ground-attack missions. The aircraft's innovative aerodynamic design, providing excellent maneuverability, combined with strong flight performance, a maximum speed of Mach 2.0, and the capability to carry a diverse and flexible offensive payload, also contributed to its commercial success outside Sweden.