Summary and Key Points: Sweden's JAS-39 Gripen, a versatile fourth-generation-plus multirole fighter, is renowned for its affordability, advanced capabilities, and ability to operate from short runways.

-Despite its strengths and successful deployment in Libya and Afghanistan, Sweden has delayed sending these aircraft to Ukraine, initially intending to bolster Ukraine's defense amid its conflict with Russia.

-Sweden's accession to NATO was a factor in the delay, but the decision was ultimately postponed in May, with concerns about Ukraine's prospects in the war influencing this decision.

JAS-39 Gripen: Sweden is Delaying the Shipment of Its Best Warplane to Ukraine

The Swedish Air Force wanted to replace their aging fleet of Saab 35 Draken and Saab 37 Viggen fighters back in the late 1970s. Swedish designers had the idea of building a multi-role fighter to replace these aging systems. Thus, the JAS-39 Gripen was born. It first took flight in 1988 and entered official service for the Swedish Air Force in 1996.

The Gripen’s Capabilities

The Gripen is one of the most respected multirole fighters in the world. Many have likened it to a “Swiss Army Knife,” loaded with aerial capabilities. This bird can capably conduct air-to-air combat and ground attack missions, and it can perform reconnaissance. 

In terms of its air-to-air combat abilities, the Gripen is equipped with advanced radar and sensors that make it formidable against most modern combat planes. This bird belongs to what designers refer to as the “Fourth Generation +” family of warbirds. That’s basically a fourth-generation warplane body augmented by technologies one would ordinarily find in a fifth-generation warplane. The U.S. military’s F-15EX Eagle II would be a comparable system. In the course of its air-to-air attack mission set, the Gripen can carry the AIM-120 AMRAAM and the Meteor missile systems.

As for its ground attack capabilities, the Gripen is equipped with a multitude of air-to-ground weapons. Bombs, rockets, and missiles intended for destroying targets on the ground are all found on this bird. 

The Gripen’s reconnaissance capabilities are enhanced by modern sensors and cameras. And it is well-defended against Electronic Warfare attacks, meaning the plane can resist enemy radar and missile attacks better than most others. 

Speed and Range of the Gripen

This single-seat warplane is known for its high speed and agility. It can reach a cruising speed of Mach 2 (approximately 1,530 miles per hour) and enjoys a combat range of about 800 kilometers (500 miles). 

One of the key selling points for the Gripen is that it can land and take off from short runways, making it ideal for contested combat zones.

Role in Military Operations

The Gripen has a wide variety of mission sets it has performed since coming online in 1996. Its greatest contributions, though, were to the war efforts in Libya and Afghanistan. 

The Gripen was a common European warplane used in the shambolic Western air war against Moammar Gadhafi in Libya in 2011. In Afghanistan, the Czech Republic used these warbirds, as did Hungary, in support of NATO operations against insurgents in Afghanistan.

A Fan Favorite

The Gripen is not only one of the most advanced fourth-generation warplanes out there, but it is also highly affordable, making it popular for mass exports. Many other nations purchase and use the Gripen. These include the Czech Republic, Hungary, South Africa, Thailand, and Brazil, which jointly developed variants of this bird with Sweden. The Royal Air Force flight school uses these as training planes. 

Its low cost, high degree of sophistication, flexible armaments package, and ability to deploy from and land at shorter runways makes this warbird an international fan favorite. 

The Ukraine-Gripen Saga

In February of this year, Stockholm announced its intention to send a squadron of JAS-39 Gripens to the Ukrainian Air Force. This was on the heels of the NATO decision to send a handful of advanced Main Battle Tanks last year to Ukraine. Sweden had hoped to get a tranche of these birds shipped over to Ukraine quickly, but the entire deal was held up while Sweden waited for accession into the NATO alliance, which was being held up by Hungary at the time.

Ultimately, Sweden did join NATO after an 18-month slog to the finish line. 

But it was decided in May of this year that they would delay the shipment. If Sweden were smart, they’d avoid sending these systems to Ukraine, as Ukraine is about to lose, and no weapons system can prevent this sad reality. 

Conclusion

This highly capable warplane has served in multiple air forces since 1996. Many other countries are looking to acquire these systems because of the fact that the Gripen is such a versatile and reliable warplane. It might not be as sophisticated as an American system or as ubiquitous as a Russian warplane. But it gets the job done on a budget. There’s nothing really better than that. 

Author Experience and Expertise: Brandon J. Weichert

Brandon J. Weichert, a National Interest national security analyst, is a former Congressional staffer and geopolitical analyst who is a contributor at The Washington Times, the Asia Times, and The-Pipeline. He is the author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His next book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine, is due October 22 from Encounter Books. Weichert can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.

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