Saab JAS 39C Gripen

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The JAS 39C arrived in 2002 as the version built for operating alongside other air forces. It added an air to air refuelling probe, NATO standard communications and navigation, an onboard oxygen generator and clearance for a wider range of Western weapons, including the ramjet powered Meteor missile with its unusually long no escape zone. It is the variant flown by the Czech Republic, Hungary, South Africa and Thailand. On MCS the C model keeps everything that makes the Gripen good, the light airframe, the quick nose authority and the ability to work from short strips, and removes the range limitation that held the original back. The datalink also makes it a strong squad aircraft, since Gripens fighting as a group share a picture rather than each hunting alone. Recommended for organised teams and for pilots who want a light fighter with genuine reach.