Jan 24, 2026
3 min read
Airspace Review - The Gripen Quick Reaction Jet (QRA) of the Swedish Air Force (Flygvapnet) was deployed on 22 January 2026 to intercept
AIR SPACE REVIEW - On January 22, 2026, the Swedish Air Force's Gripen Quick Reaction Fighter (KRA) was deployed to intercept the Russian Tu-22M3 Backfire long-range strategic attack and maritime bomber aircraft, escorted by Si-Es-35 Flan fighters.
The incident underscores the extent to which Russian long-range air missions typically provoke NATO air surveillance responses.
Gripen followed the formation of a Russian military aircraft located near NATO airspace.According to photos and information published by the X account of the Swedish Air Force (Flygvapnet) and the Swedish National Army (Försvarsmakten), there were two Su-35S escorting a Tu-22M aircraft flying in international airspace.
Sweden's incident response system was activated when an aerial surveillance network detected a Russian formation over the Baltic Sea, an area where military vehicles are heavy and often operate without transponder signals or file flight plans.
In accordance with established NATO air surveillance practices, the Gripen fighter jets were instructed to land, visually identify the aircraft, escort it to a safe distance and keep its trajectory outside the alliance's airspace.
The Swedish armed forces (Försvarsmakten) stated that the Swedish QRA signals its presence and ensures that flight movements in the airspace around its country do not go unnoticed at all times.
Meanwhile, on the Russian side, Moscow wants to demonstrate that long-range patrol activities are regularly carried out in international airspace.However, many observers believe that these patrol activities are also used to test the limits of NATO-controlled air and response times for intelligence gathering.
The Russian group combines two complementary capabilities: the TU-22m3 Bomber is a long-range maritime attack aircraft and a theater bomber.The aircraft is designed to manage large anti-ship missiles, such as the KH-22 or be improved version, the KH-32, and is capable of long-range strikes against naval and ground stores in the Baltic Sea region.
When such an arrangement appears over the Baltic Sea, NATO planners see it as more than just a training profile, but rather a reminder that Russian forces retain the ability to threaten sea lines and infrastructure from significant distances even in peacetime.
The Su-35S is a modern derivative of the Flanker family.The aircraft is equipped with the N035 Irbis-E electronic scanning array radar, capable of detecting fighter-sized targets at a range of up to 400 km and tracking multiple contacts simultaneously while engaging multiple targets simultaneously.
Although Swedish officials did not specify which Gripen version was deployed, the country's QRA currency relies on this Saab-built fighter.
The Gripen is a multi-role fighter designed for distributed operations.The aircraft can operate on short and simple routes and can work quickly with a small team on the ground, an idea suitable for the Nordic region.
With Sweden joining NATO in March 2024, Stockholm has further integrated the Gripen into its air force structure, including deployment to Poland and planning to lead the A Keflavík Air Patrol mission.
In the context of the Baltic Sea, the combination of strong national sensors, NATO command and control, and fighters optimized to combat Russian aircraft types, gives Stockholm a credible ability to track and engage complex formations such as Su-35S and Tu-22M3 without engaging in direct confrontation.
Upon closer inspection of the images published by FlyGupnet, it is unclear what weapons the Gripen was carrying on the mission to carry out the intercept.
However, one of the main tools in this field that Saab has integrated into the Gripen is the MBDA Meteor, a ramjet long-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) jointly developed by several European countries, including Sweden and Germany.
The meteor used a high-powered ballistic rocket during its flight and reportedly traveled around Mach 4 with a large "no-escape zone".
The missile is supported by inertial guidance, mid-track data and link updates, and an active radar seeker in the terminal phase.
NATO air patrols are intended as purely defensive missions, but routine identification tasks in a crisis must be performed with platforms and weapons capable of combat and survivability.
Escort flights by Russian bombers with modern fighters, European QRA forces equipped with sensors and missiles such as Gripen fighters and Meteor missiles create an environment in which misjudgments have immediate operational consequences.
"Deer" defeats "Bear Pack"
The Gripen name used by Saab for the JAS 39 fighter (now Saab Gripen) in Swedish means Griffin.
This is an ancient mythological creature that has the body, tail and hind legs of a lion, but the head, wings and forefingers of an eagle.
The eagle is a symbol of speed and keen vision in the air.This combination is well suited for multi-role combat aircraft that need to be tough in the air and deadly when attacking targets on land/sea.The lion symbolizes power and dominance on land.
The name Gripen wasn't just chosen because it was cool.We know that the red Griffin logo on the crown is the logo of Saab AB, the company that makes this fighter jet.
Truck manufacturer Scania also uses the logo, as the two companies were previously part of the same group (Saab-Scania).
The name Gripen was chosen through a public competition in the early 1980s when the design of the fighter, then known as the JAS 39, was in development.
Of the many proposals, the "Gripen" was chosen because it was considered to best represent the Swedish national identity and their air force.
A little addition about JAS 39, the letter JAS is a combination of Jakt (J) which means hunting, Attack (A) which means attack, and Spanning (S) which means search.
Number 39, on the other hand, is the serial number or design registration of the project in the Swedish Air Force.The order is Saab 29 Tunan (Ton), Saab 32 Ransen (Javelin), Saab 35 Draken (Dragon), Saab 37 Vigen (Lightning), and Saab 39 Gripen (Griffin).
The author uses the metaphor "Cancil" for the Saab Gripen in this case to describe the differences between the small Gripen and the large Russian fleet of Tu-22M3 bombers and Su-35C fighter jets.And Bear is a word associated with Russia.
In the case of intercepting a Tu-22ME escorted by a Su-35S, the Gripen offers a unique advantage thanks to its internal electronic warfare (EW) system, which is considered one of the best in the world in countering a powerful radar like the Su-35S.This allows the Gripen to be "difficult to lock onto" an adversary's radar during short-range escort.
The Saab Gripen fighter is known to be very agile at medium and low altitudes, allowing the aircraft to approach formations of Russian aircraft, perform visual identification and take photographs without appearing aggressive or remaining alert.
So, the little mouse deer has high efficiency and EW technology and is equipped with a long-range strike, or at least an IRIS-T short-range air-to-air missile.The mouse deer faced a fleet of bears that were large, very strong and agile in the air.
Indeed, the presence of Gripen with a flagship sends a message that even though this aircraft is physically smaller than the Su-35S, its range and accuracy underline its superiority in long-range air combat (BVR) scenarios.
If the upgrade happens, the Meteor missile will give the Gripen an advantage due to its ramjet technology.It has a greater range (200 km) than the Russian Meteor R-77 missile (110 km).Both missiles have a speed of over Mach 4.
To clarify, all Swedish Gripen ships are capable of carrying and firing Meteor missiles.The Swedish Gripen C/D is the first jet aircraft in the world to use the Meteor missile.
The first test firing of Alka with Gripen was done in 2013 and full operation of the missile was achieved in 2016.
If the Gripen has advantages in terms of EW equipment and Meteor missiles, it does not mean that the Su-35S can simply win.
Gripen and Flanker essentially had opposing design philosophies from the beginning.If we think of the Gripen as a precise and effective "scalpel", the Su-35S is a "giant sword" that relies on brutal power and wide range, which has long been one of the hallmarks of the Soviet Union/Russia.
The Su-35S is equipped with two Saturn AL-41F1S engines and a pilot control.The Su-35S can perform tasks that are difficult for conventional aircraft according to the laws of physics, such as Pugachev's cobra or stall.In close duels (dog fights), this speed is very deadly and gives the hunter an advantage.
The Su-35S is equipped with the N035 Irbis-E "elephant radar" which is very large as the nose of the aircraft is also large.It is one of the most powerful PESA (Passive Electronically Scanned Array) radars in the world.This radar can detect normal targets from a distance of 400 km.The power of the beam is so great that it is often said to be capable of "burning out" enemy electronic interference.
The Su-35S has 12 hardpoints and can carry up to 8 tons of weapons.The plane can carry a large number of missiles at once.
In terms of range, as already mentioned, the Su-35 can fly much longer and further with a combat radius of about 1500 km compared to the Gripens.This is also the reason why Russia uses it to accompany bombers over the wide Baltic Sea.
The Su-35S is able to operate more effectively at higher altitudes than the Griffin.In a thin atmosphere, the aircraft can still maneuver well, giving it a gravity advantage when firing missiles.
So, again using various superior features, the Su-35 can overcome the advantages of the Meteor missile and other features of the Gripen.
In reality, the success or failure of an air strike depends on a variety of factors.The air war between Pakistan and India in May 2025 has many lessons for us, especially the policy makers/decision makers.
Interceptions by NATO member states of Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea are common and frequent.
However, this intervention is still interesting in terms of the deployed fleet and the unexpected opportunities that suddenly arise.True or true...?(RNS)
