Up to this point, there has been active discussion regarding the types of missile armament that the JAS 39 Gripen can carry. The aircraft's specifications include, among other things, the Meteor air-to-air missiles and the German-made Taurus cruise missiles. However, there is a certain paradox in that the Swedish Air Force, as the primary operator of the Gripens, does not actually possess either of these weapon types.
Now, we have a reason to discuss the types of bombs that can be deployed with the JAS 39 Gripen, as there is an interesting aspect to consider.
As reported by the Polish portal ZBiAM, on January 28, 2025, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) revealed that it had entered into a contract worth 100 million Swedish kronor with the German defense corporation Rheinmetall for the procurement of Mk 82 free-fall bombs (weight – 227 kilograms, of which 89 kilograms is explosive).
The delivery of these bombs to the Swedish Air Force is set to occur in the spring of this year, which raises the question of whether Rheinmetall can sustain such a compressed production cycle for these bombs, or if the contract was actually signed much earlier, with the Swedish Ministry of Defence only now making the information public.
Interestingly, according to calculations by the authors of ZBiAM, this may involve a fairly substantial number of purchased bombs, specifically – 500 units of Mk 82.
At first glance, the procurement of free-fall bombs, especially under current conditions, may seem like an inexplicable anachronism. However, it is important to note that the Mk 82 bomb serves as the basis for the guided GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bomb, as well as the JDAM.
Additionally, it's worth noting that the JAS 39 Gripen can carry either up to eight Mk 82 free-fall bombs or up to four GBU-12 Paveway II bombs on its hardpoints.
Previously, Defense Express reported on how many months it would take to reactivate a previously closed airbase for JAS 39 Gripen flights, which is a telling parameter that highlights why one should not overestimate the "field" operational capabilities of the Gripens.