The Gripen: Sweden's Fighter Jet Masterpiece

Sweden's JAS 39 Gripen redefines modern air power. From its groundbreaking design to unmatched versatility, discover how this masterpiece of engineering excels as the ultimate non-stealth fighter jet.

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[eric.s.]

Swiss here, unfortunately we opted for the procurement of F-35s a few years ago, but Gripen was one of the favourites in the evaluation. Given the current geopolitical situation, it is very regrettable that Switzerland did not opt for the Gripen. In the future, Europe must give very high priority to the procurement of military equipment from a European country.

[MaelgwnYT]

Very proud to be working on the JAS-39 Gripen team here in Sweden! \o/

[aquelegabriel]

In Brazil, we had a lot of ignorant people complaining when the government opted for this plane over the American alternative.
You know, the people that think everything from the US is always better.

I'm glad the government chose this fighter jet. Not only will this improve the air force capacity, but it will also improve our industry, since Saab will allow Embraer to build the planes in Brazil. This is amazing, because it will give us access to knowledge to eventually create our own variations and, maybe, design a native plane in the future.

[michaelhatch]

What's great about the Gripen is that you only need an Allen Key to assemble it from the flat pack.

[dral]

It's quite impressive for a nation of 10 million people to keep coming up with world-class aircraft designs. The modest Swedes, who dislike bragging and don't wave their flag, quietly prove their talents.

[alexeizaraiov]

As a Brazilian, Im glad Brazil made the partnership with Sweden to purchase and produce the Gripen. Embraer and Saab will definitely cook in the coming years

[garyoreilly]

I saw a Gripen first hand at a motocross event in Sweden. Unbelievable what it could do at slow speed and high speed. I came for the Motocross, I left in awe of the jet.

[MichelMorin-ot]

Canadian here: My first option for Canada was to build their own interceptor aircraft but, this Gripen seems to be the best alternative for the moment after cancelling most of the F-35 order. For those younger reader, search youtube about the AVRO ARROW (the movie is dramatize but very cool) that the americain government bullying put an end to, in 1959. Otherwise, try to imagine where Canada would be today, regarding the aerospace industry...

[edwardbooth]

I like that Swedes don't entrap you into investing in weapons systems then prevent you from using them against waring enemies

[sinisterplank]

One thing worth noting about only needing a quarter mile of flat-ish runway and a 6 man crew to service it, is that munition and fuel is loaded up on a truck with a little fuel trailer. The mobile airfield is our answer to an enemy being able to overwhelm a conventional airfield with bombardment.
"We blew up your airfield"
"Nah, we set up a new one five minutes ago. Good luck finding it"

To add to that, having been a driver in our country for a while now, learning all our main roads isn't that hard. Moving airfield to a new location multiple times a day is easy.

[Adiscretefirm]

Important in the discussion is the training and funding of Sweden's pilot and maintenance personnel and support services. It doesn't matter how good the platform is if you don't have people to fly and fix your jets. Sweden has always understood and addressed those factors

[mikebehnka]

Here in Canada, they announced they are reevaluating the F35 order. The second place was the Gripen, but because of NORAD interoperability they went with the considerably more expensive F35. The NORAD situation is, well, changed recently to say the least. For the cost of 60 F35, we could get 80 of the Gripen. We have the facilities, we can contribute to the production and speed it up, as well as speeding delivery of other orders.

[dm-pt]

I have worked for saab as a systems engineer but in naval systems (ironically since my background is in aerospace and materials science) and I can tell you that the processes within the company as well as the technical abilities of the engineers and the efficiency at which everything is done is just top level. This in combination with absence of micromanagement where the engineers are respected and they decisions from above are always taking into account the technical aspects and requirements before just the economic part. SAAB is capable of big things without going into further details.

[danfrancisjr]

when I was a kid I was in awe of fighter jet combat capabilities. Now I marvel at the logistic and cost effectiveness excellence of the gripen

[cstuewe]

The history of the Swedish Air Force is a real Saab Story.

[randalltilander]

Canadian here. Our tactical situation is much like that of Sweden. We have a fairly broad expanse of forests serviced by highways and secondary roads. The ability to disperse the RCAF into that countryside would allow us to use the forests to our tactical advantage.

Likewise, the F35 has a computer-coded kill switch which could be used to prevent RCAF deployment to missions not approved by Washington. The ability to control our own Air Force is particularly important now that Canada is facing a hostile regime in Washington.

[barrykervin]

Canada needs to cancel the F-35 and buy the Gripen

[tomasjonsson]

Gripen E/F is outstanding. Also as you said, from mission to airborne in remote areas its incomparable. In Nato excercise Steadfast Deterrence 2024 it went up against all of Natos fleet. Did well, and impressed about how fast it can be airborne after mission. Awesome

[nursultantulyakbay]

I live in sweden, in Linköping and it's really common to see Gripen flying around and doing excersizes, it's almost a daily occurance some parts of the year where you are having a discussion with a friend or something only to be interrupted by a roaring airplane just above you. On the highways in to the city you can see viggen, draken and gripen on display. And even used to work delivery where I was able to deliver some Gripen parts to the maintenance quarters. Safe to say that us swedes are really proud of our star fighter.

[themanyouwanttobe]

Canadians should certainly be backing out of the F-35 deal and pursuing a contract for the Gripen, given current relations with the US.