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Gripen vs F-35 — Can Sweden’s Jet Rival America’s Stealth Fighter?
General Information
|
Name
|
JAS 39E Gripen (Gripen E)
F-35 Lightning II |
|
Manufacturer
|
Saab AB
Lockheed Martin |
|
Country of Origin
|
Sweden
United States |
|
Type / Role
|
Multirole Fighter Jet
Multirole Stealth Fighter |
|
Generation
|
4.5
5th |
|
Status
|
In Production / Active Service
In Service |
|
First Flight
|
June 15, 2017
December 15, 2006 |
|
Introduction / In Service Since
|
2023
2015 |
|
Number Built
|
60+ (Orders in progress)
1,200+ (as of 2025) |
|
Operators
|
Sweden, Brazil
USA, UK, Japan, Israel, Italy, Australia, and others |
Dimensions & Structure
|
Length
|
15.2 m (49.8 ft)
51.2 ft (15.6 m) |
|
Wingspan
|
8.6 m (28.2 ft)
35 ft (10.7 m) |
|
Height
|
4.5 m (14.7 ft)
14.4 ft (4.38 m) |
|
Wing Area
|
30 m²
460 sq ft (42.7 m²) |
|
Empty Weight
|
8,000 kg
29,300 lb (13,300 kg) |
|
Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW)
|
16,500 kg
70,000 lb (31,800 kg) |
|
Internal Weapons Bay
|
None
2 (up to 5,700 lb payload) |
|
External Hardpoints
|
10
6–10 (up to 18,000 lb total) |
Performance
|
Maximum Speed
|
Mach 2.0
Mach 1.6 |
|
Range
|
1,600 km
1,380 mi (2,220 km) |
|
Combat Radius
|
800 km
~670 mi (1,080 km) |
|
Service Ceiling
|
50,000 ft (15,240 m)
50,000 ft (15,240 m) |
|
Rate of Climb
|
15,000 m/min
45,000 ft/min |
|
Thrust-to-Weight Ratio
|
0.97
0.87 |
|
G Limits
|
+9 / -3
+9 |
Powerplant
|
Engine Type
|
GE F414G afterburning turbofan
Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 |
|
No. of Engines
|
1
1 |
|
Thrust (each)
|
22,000 lbf (98 kN)
43,000 lbf |
|
Thrust Vectoring
|
No
Yes (on F-35B variant) |
|
Fuel Capacity
|
3,400 kg (internal)
~18,500 lb internal |
Armament
|
Gun
|
27 mm Mauser BK-27 cannon
GAU-22/A 25mm cannon (F-35A) |
|
Missiles (Air-to-Air)
|
Meteor, IRIS-T, AIM-9, AIM-120 AMRAAM
AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-9X |
|
Missiles (Air-to-Ground)
|
RBS-15, AGM-65 Maverick
AGM-154 JSOW, AGM-158 JASSM |
|
Bombs
|
Paveway II/III, JDAM, Mk 82/83/84
JDAM, Paveway II/III, SDB I/II |
|
Hardpoints
|
10
6 external + 2 internal |
|
Payload Capacity
|
6,000 kg (13,200 lb)
~18,000 lb |
Avionics & Systems
|
Radar
|
Selex ES Raven ES-05 AESA
AN/APG-81 AESA |
|
Radar Range
|
160+ km
~150+ km |
|
Electronic Warfare (EW) System
|
Saab Arexis Integrated EW Suite
AN/ASQ-239 suite |
|
Targeting System
|
IRST + Litening Targeting Pod
EOTS (Electro-Optical Targeting System) |
|
Helmet Display
|
Targo II HMD
HMDS Gen III |
|
Navigation
|
GPS/INS Hybrid
GPS/INS with terrain-following |
|
Autopilot / AI Assistance
|
Yes (Advanced Digital Flight Control)
Advanced flight management |
|
Communication
|
Link 16, Secure Datalink, SATCOM
MADL & Link 16 secure data links |
Stealth & Technology
|
Radar Cross Section (RCS)
|
Reduced, non-stealth (~1 m² class)
~0.001 m² |
|
Stealth Features
|
Radar-absorbent materials and design
RAM coating, internal weapons bay, edge alignment |
|
Infrared Signature Reduction
|
Yes
Yes |
|
Sensor Fusion
|
Full 360° sensor fusion system
Full 360° data integration |
|
Networking Capabilities
|
Network-Centric Warfare, Link 16, SwAF Data Link
Distributed data-sharing with allied units |
Variants
|
Special Export Versions
|
Brazilian Gripen F with local avionics
F-35I (Israel), F-35A (Japan), etc. |
Operational History
|
Major Conflicts / Deployments
|
None (peace-time operational)
Middle East operations (Iraq, Syria) |
|
Notable Operators
|
Sweden, Brazil
USAF, USN, USMC, RAF, IDF |
|
Combat Proven?
|
Not yet
Yes |
|
Mission Types
|
Air Superiority, Strike, Reconnaissance, Maritime Patrol
Air superiority, strike, SEAD, ISR |
Cost & Program
|
Unit Cost
|
$85 million (approximate)
$80–100 million (variant-dependent) |
|
Development Cost
|
$2+ billion
~$400 billion (program total) |
|
Program Name
|
Gripen E/F Program
Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) |
|
Funding Countries
|
Sweden, Brazil
USA, UK, Italy, Netherlands, Canada, Australia, etc. |
Additional Information
|
Upgrades Planned
|
Enhanced EW, AI-assisted avionics, new weapon integration
Block 4, Tech Refresh 3 |
|
Future Replacement
|
Swedish next-generation stealth fighter (FCAS concept)
NGAD (2035+) |
|
Export Restrictions
|
Moderate
U.S. FMS approval required |
|
Notable Achievements
|
Lowest operational cost in 4.5-gen class
Widest global fighter program in history |
|
Competitors
|
Dassault Rafale, F-16V, Tejas Mk1A, JAS 39C/D
Su-57, J-20, Tempest, KF-21 |
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