PUBLISHED on August 8, 2025, 08:26 AM EDT – Key Points and Summary – In a hypothetical air battle between the Swedish JAS-39 Gripen and the American F-35 JSF, the fifth-generation stealth fighter holds the decisive advantage.
-While the Gripen is faster, more agile, and more cost-effective, its lack of stealth is a critical vulnerability.
-The F-35’s superior sensor fusion and low observability would allow it to detect and engage the Gripen from beyond visual range, long before the Gripen could leverage its dogfighting strengths.
-As an old pilot proverb says, “Lose the sight, lose the fight,” and in this matchup, the F-35’s technology ensures it sees first.
Who Would Win An Air Battle Between The JAS 39 Gripen And the F-35?
Many of NATO’s air forces fly the U.S.-made F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation stealth fighter. Other U.S. allies have purchased the F-35 as well – about 20 nations either already the F-35, or have signed agreements to acquire it.
Sweden’s Saab JAS 39 Gripen, however, has been gaining popularity on the foreign sales market. It is more affordable, fast, and highly maneuverable. There is currently a debate in Canada about whether the Royal Canadian Air Force should opt for the F-35 or the JAS-39.
It is important for the purpose of such debates to determine which is the better aircraft. Although it is doubtful that these fighters will ever face each other in combat, in a hypothetical situation, which one would win an aerial battle?
JAS 39 Gripen Features
The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is part of a long line of outstanding Swedish fighter jets, including the Draken and Viggen. According to MilitaryFactory.com, the Gripen has a top speed of 1,500 miles per hour and a maximum range of 1,988 miles.
The plane is armed with a 27-mm cannon and can carry a wide variety of air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons. It is a very advanced fourth-generation fighter (arguably falling in the Generation 4.5 category, along with the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Dassault Rafale).
The Gripen is a highly maneuverable, fast, multi-role fighter with very good sensor fusion.
F-35 Highlights
The F-35, on the other hand, offers stealth technology and very advanced avionics, making it a fifth-generation fighter. MilitaryFactory.com reports it has a top speed of 1,200 miles per hour and a range of 1,379 miles.
The JSF arms a wide variety of air-to-air and air-to-surface ordnance, and it comes with a GAU-22 25-mm cannon. The F-35 is widely considered the most advanced aircraft in the world thanks to its world-class avionics and sensor fusion.
Israel’s usage of the F-35 in the Middle East against targets in Iran, Syria, and Lebanon shows that the Lightning II’s combat capabilities are as they were advertised – it has conducted thousands of sorties without a loss.
Head-To-Head Match Up With Gripen and the F-35:
In a battle in the sky, the F-35 would win against the Gripen thanks to its stealth capabilities, advanced sensor fusion, and longer range, according to several military aviation websites.
While the Gripen boasts superior agility, speed, and electronic warfare capabilities, its lack of stealth and its reliance on visual-range engagements would make it vulnerable to the F-35’s superior situational awareness and sensor technology.
The F-35’s low radar cross section makes it difficult to detect and target, giving it a significant advantage in beyond-visual-range engagements.
F-35’s Sensor Fusion Is The Best In The World
The F-35’s ability to seamlessly combine data from multiple sensors provides a superior picture of the battlefield, allowing it to identify and track targets long before the Gripen can.
From Lockheed Martin, “The F-35’s advanced sensor fusion technologies create a single integrated picture of the battlefield, enabling pilots to access critical information and make more informed decisions in real-time. By combining these technologies with its other capabilities, the F-35 enables armed forces to achieve and maintain air superiority, and to dominate the battlefield.”
The JSF also has a greater combat radius, enabling it to strike deeper into enemy territory and to conduct long-range patrols.
Gripen’s Agility and Speed Are Excellent
The Gripen is an incredibly agile and maneuverable fighter, capable of out-turning and out-accelerating the F-35 in close-range dogfights. It is also faster than the Lightning II.
The JAS 39 Gripen’s advanced electronic warfare suite is designed to jam enemy radars and disrupt their targeting systems, potentially creating an opportunity for a close-range engagement.
The Gripen is significantly cheaper to buy, operate, and maintain than the F-35, making it a more attractive option for smaller air forces with limited budgets.
The Gripen can operate from shorter runways and more basic airfields, giving it greater flexibility in deployment.
Why the F-35 Is The Superior Aircraft:
While the Gripen’s agility and electronic warfare capabilities would challenge any enemy during a close-in dogfight, the F-35’s stealth and sensor fusion capabilities would likely prove decisive.
The JSF can detect the JAS 39 Gripen at long range and engage it before the Gripen can even get within visual range. As an old but still-true fighter pilot’s proverb goes, “Lose the sight, lose the fight.”
Further, the F-35’s ability to share data with other aircraft and ground-based systems would allow it to coordinate attacks that would overwhelm the Gripen’s defenses. Its sensor fusion is an incredible advantage for F-35 pilots.
The Gripen is a tough and versatile fighter; However, as I’ve written here in the past, the Gripen is the best Western fighter not named the F-35 or the F-22. The F-35’s stealth, sensor fusion, and longer range would likely give it the upper hand in a direct confrontation.
About the Author:
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
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Ulf Stendahl
September 29, 2025 at 8:02 pm
You write about Saab 39 Gripen that “its reliance on visual-range engagements…” It is usually armed with an extreamly deadly beyond visual range anti aircraft missile called Meteor. Check that out.
And further that “…would make it vulnerable to the F-35’s superior situational awareness and sensor technology.” Gripen is also very strong in this field. But a fighter air craft never works alone. The Swedish Airforce has and the Candian Air force will likely have the highly competent flying Early Warning and Contral system called GlobalEye, a Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft filled with the most advanced radars, other sensors and electronics which provides Gripen with an excelent situational awarness. The effectivness of this system was proven in Ukrain where it helped old F16s to shoot down superior modern Russian SU fighters.