Key Points and Summary – The JAS 39 Gripen can’t match the F-35’s stealth, but it punches hard where many governments now care most: cost, flexibility, and sovereignty.
-With operating costs a fraction of the F-35’s and no entanglement in U.S. export controls or software black boxes, Sweden’s fighter offers nations real autonomy over their airpower.
JAS 39 Gripen. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
-That tension is playing out in Canada, where Prime Minister Mark Carney is reviewing Ottawa’s F-35 buy amid political friction with Washington and budget strain.
-Saab’s promises of local jobs, tech transfer, and simpler basing make Gripen tempting—and Canada’s choice could ripple far beyond its borders.
Why the JAS 39 Gripen Could “Beat” the F-35 – Despite the F-35’s Obvious Advantages
The JAS 39 Gripen fighter jet, built by Swedish defense firm Saab, lacks the low-observable profile that defines modern fifth-generation fighters like the F-35 Lightning II.
Yet, across multiple continents, nations continue to consider and procure Gripen jets—from Europe to South America to Asia.
But why does a non-stealthy jet remain such a competitive option in 2025, when the US offers the world’s most advanced stealth fighter to many markets?
There is no single simple answer, but several: affordability, operational flexibility, and, perhaps most important of all, sovereignty.
While the Gripen is becoming an increasingly attractive option for air forces large and small, the most interesting example of this dynamic at play right now is Canada, where a debate over the future of the Royal Canadian Air Force centers on both cost and control.
Gripen’s Value Without Stealth
The Gripen may not be stealthy, but it has a multitude of other attributes that make it well-suited to many missions.
Its operating costs per flight hour are also significantly lower than many of its contemporaries—somewhere around the $5,800 mark compared to the F-35’s $35,000—making it among the most cost-effective Western fighters on the market—so for air forces that don’t need high-end stealth, it’s the obvious answer.
Moreover, while the Gripen cannot evade radar as a stealth jet can, it’s still a capable multi-role combat aircraft.
That means it can perform interception, air-defense patrols, and traditional air-to-air and air-to-ground defense roles. For many potential buyers, that set of roles is far more relevant than stealth—especially for countries whose strategic environment doesn’t require deep strikes into heavily defended airspace.
JAS 39 Gripen Fighter from Back in 2017. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Not only that, but the Gripen is logistically and politically simpler than the F-35. It doesn’t tie the buyer into US supply chains, classified software systems, or any export-control restrictions. For some countries, buying the Gripen means ending reliance on American systems, which may be politically convenient or economically sensible.
In short, the Gripen’s value lies in its being a flexible, sovereign-friendly workhorse jet that doesn’t entail the costs and complications of America’s world-class F-35.
What’s Happening In Canada
This entire debate is unfolding in real time in Canada. Under its Future Fighter Capability Project, Ottawa initially committed to acquiring 88 F-35A jets.
But as cost pressures mount and trade uncertainty worsens, with US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Mark Carney hashing it out on the public stage, the Gripen is increasingly seen as a next-best option.
The Gripen comes with major downsides, notably that operating a mixed fleet of more than a dozen existing F-35As and Gripens would introduce logistical problems and higher sustainment costs.
But despite that, the Gripen is seen by some political leaders—and not necessarily military leaders—as a way for Canada to assert greater control over its airpower. Specifically, the Gripen offers manufacturing jobs in Canada, technology transfer, and operational independence from US supply chains.
Following Carney’s appointment as prime minister, the conversation almost immediately changed on Canada’s F-35 procurement plans, with a review initiated that has since been completed. The results of that review, however, have yet to be published.
U.S CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (April 24, 2025) U.S. Sailors conduct pre-flight safety checks on an F-35C Lightning II, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 97, on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (Official U.S. Navy photo)
In the meantime, Saab has pushed hard to win over the Canadian government, promising to build and complete Gripen assembly and R&D in a new Canadian facility, creating thousands of new jobs and increasing Canada’s industrial capacity.
There are other practical advantages, too: Gripen can operate from existing Canadian Forces bases without the expensive infrastructure modifications required for the F-35, and with its lower operating costs, it is a more sustainable, long-term solution.
That being said, Canada already operates the world-class F-35, could procure even more, and would enjoy greater interoperability with NATO allies should they go ahead with the original plan. But it’s hard to ignore the promise that Gripen offers, too.
Growing interest in the Gripen reflects a broader shift in how countries are thinking about airpower.
As geopolitical tensions rise, procurement costs increase, and concerns about over-reliance on US-dominated defense supply chains spread, aircraft like the Gripen—as well as offerings from France and Asia—are becoming increasingly attractive options.
Not every country wants or needs a fifth-generation aircraft, after all. For many, having a dependable deterrent is far more critical, one that can patrol borders and intercept aircraft.
Sovereignty, in the end, may win out over high-end stealth capabilities.
Whatever decision comes out of Canada could influence how other countries look at it, too.
Should Ottawa choose the F-35, it’ll reinforce the reality that Lockheed Martin sells the most capable stealth fighter on the planet, and that interoperability with NATO forces is well worth the money.
But if Canada goes for the Gripen, it could be the nod of approval Europe needs on a continent-wide basis that it isn’t the F-35 or nothing.
About the Author:
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York who writes frequently for National Security Journal. Reporting on the UK, Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society. His latest book is The Truth Teller: RFK Jr. and the Case for a Post-Partisan Presidency.
Johnpol
November 28, 2025 at 6:07 pm
Most of systems are usa made and under itar into gripen