The Saab JAS 39 Gripen E Swedish fighter can operate from highways, short runways, and austere bases. Most modern fighters require approximately 2-mile-long groomed runways. The Saab JAS 39 Gripen E is powered by the GE F414 engine — the same engine as the U.S. F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The Gripen E has an AESA radar with a wide field of regard, an infrared track-and-search (IRST) system, and embedded electronic warfare attack/self-protection/deception systems.
The JAS Gripen E Fighter Is a Powerhouse
JAS 39 Gripen E Fighters. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
JAS 39 Gripen SAAB Image Handout
JAS 39 Gripen Flying in Formation.
The Saab JAS 39 Gripen E is often misunderstood as a modest refresh of a light fighter.
In reality, Gripen E represents a fundamental re-architecture of the Gripen concept. While the new Gripen is not a prestige platform, it has been optimized for modern, contested warfare under resource constraints, making it a valuable platform.
Sweden’s Philosophy
Sweden’s Cold War defense posture shaped the development of the Gripen. Namely, Sweden expected to fight alone with limited resources and wanted something with high survivability. So, an aircraft was built with an emphasis on dispersed basing, rapid turnaround, and high availability
. Now, the Gripen E continues this Cold War logic into the sensor- and missile-dominated era.
Updating the JAS 39 Gripen E
Gripen E is not a simple avionics refresh of the earlier Gripen. Rather, the airframe was enlarged, more internal fuel was added, a new engine and new sensors and computers were installed—essentially, the E is a new aircraft in many respects.
The updated GE F414 engine provides more thrust, better growth margins for sensors and weapons, and improved hot-and-high performance. It was not designed for extreme speed, but for sustained combat relevance.
Dassault Rafale vs. JAS 39 Gripen E: Which European Fighter Jet Is Better?
JAS 39 Gripen by Saab. Image Credit: Saab.
JAS 39 Gripen E Fighter. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The sensors installed prioritized situational awareness over kinematic dominance, a decision that reflects trends in modern air combat.
The key features are an AESA radar with a wide field of regard and an infrared track-and-search (IRST) system. And now sensor fusion allows the Gripen pilot to detect first, track multiple targets simultaneously, and engage cooperatively as part of a larger network.
Electronic Warfare Upgrades
In the Gripen E, electronic warfare was not an afterthought—it was a central feature. Integrated electronic attack, self-protection, and deception systems were all embedded in the new platform, which was designed to survive against advanced air defenses and disrupt adversary sensors and missiles.
This approach reflects the modern reality in which information denial can be just as valuable as destroying targets.
Similarly, the Gripen E was built for data sharing with other fighters, with ground-based sensors, with naval assets—this enables distributed targeting and cooperative missile engagements. The E can now act as a shooter, sensor, or command node in a larger network.
And while Sweden designed the Gripen during the Cold War with the understanding that it would have to fight alone as a non-NATO state, the E variant is compatible with a wide range of Western munitions, with an emphasis on long-range air-to-air missiles and precision-guided strike weapons.
The E was designed for flexible loadouts rather than maximum payload. This reflects a multirole doctrine without compromising air defense focus.
Dispersed Basing Concept
One of the Gripen E’s most distinctive features is the ability to operate from short runways, roads, and austere bases.
Unlike most modern fighters, which need a groomed two-mile-long runway, the Gripen can operate from just about anywhere—even highways.
This allows for rapid turnaround times with only small ground crews—and it complicates enemy targeting while improving force survivability. Similarly, the Gripen E emphasizes low operating costs, high sortie rates, and simplified maintenance.
This approach focuses on wartime sustainability, enabling air forces to fly more, train more, and remain combat-ready longer.
Tactical Employment
The Gripen E was optimized for defensive counter-air, interception, and attrition warfare under heavy ISR; the Gripen is not a penetrator. Instead, the Gripen enables smart, networked, and durable fighting.
The Gripen E differs from heavier fighters in that it is not stealthy and lacks a large payload. It instead relies on EQ, networking, and agility in basing and operations. This offers a different answer to modern air combat problems entirely.
Strategically, the E reflects a European, sovereignty-focused approach to air power, something attractive to states that expect to fight near home, cannot assume air superiority, and need something resilient.
The Gripen E offers high-end capability without requiring maximum size or cost.
But the Gripen E’s limitations are real. Non-stealth aircraft are increasingly being relegated to the margins.
The aircraft’s internal fuel is low, limiting the range. And the platform is dependent on networks, which can be contested.
Still, the JAS 39 Gripen E is a capable aircraft, built for constrained realities, making the design inherently pragmatic. While not a prestige aircraft, the Gripen E is survivable and sustainable, the result of a disciplined design vision.
About the Author: Harrison Kass
Harrison Kass is an attorney and journalist covering national security, technology, and politics. Previously, he was a political staffer and candidate, and a US Air Force pilot selectee. He holds a JD from the University of Oregon and a master’s in global journalism and international relations from NYU.
