Key Points and Summary – Saab’s upgraded JAS 39 Gripen E/F is tailored for NATO air policing and deterrence as Russia probes alliance airspace.
-The new variant adds supercruise, stronger EW and sensor fusion, IRST, and Meteor BVR missiles, while a GE F414 engine boosts speed and range.
JAS 39 Gripen. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
-Designed for Sweden’s Bas 90 concept, Gripens disperse to road bases, launch quickly, and turn around fast with minimal crews.
-The E/F’s open, rapidly updatable software and networking enable manned-unmanned teaming in the future.
-Agile, survivable, and affordable to operate, the Gripen E/F gives Europe a programmable fighter able to challenge modern Russian aircraft across contested skies.
Upgraded Swedish JAS 39 E/F Fighter Is One to Behold
Nobody in Sweden or even Europe is griping about the Gripen. I’m referring to Saab’s valuable and cunning JAS 39 Gripen fighter jet that is getting even better with time. The Swedes have now produced the JAS 39 E/F standard that builds on solid design and engineering prowess.
What makes the E/F upgrades better than the original? Let’s take a closer look.
The Situation In Europe Is Fraught With Risk
First, the Gripen E/F is one of the limited number of fighter jets in Europe that can give Russia’s air force a run for its money. The scene on the continent is getting more fraught with tension. Vladimir Putin has sent drones to encroach on the airspace of Poland and Romania. This is anathema to NATO members, and the alliance is getting a taste of what the Russians have dished out to Ukraine in recent years.
JAS 39 Gripens Keep NATO Protected
The Gripen E/F is designed to mitigate these dangers. It appears that Putin will continue to test boundaries, and since the JAS 39 is so good at policing borders after Sweden joined NATO, the E/F standard will take on even more importance.
JAS 39 Gripen Fighter from Back in 2017. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Survivability Is Better Than Ever
The JAS 39 E/F has additional radar-evading features. While not as stealthy as the F-35 or F-22, the Swedes are confident that it is more survivable in multi-threat environments. The E/F standard creates “super maneuverability” and the ability to engage in supercruise without afterburners. The sensor fusion is out of this world, too.
The E/F’s avionics package is top-notch. This allows it to compete with the best of Russian fighter jets. Weapons and targeting pods are improved in the latest Gripen version. The airplane excels at network-centric warfare with cutting-edge software that is easily upgradable.
Decentralize the Air Force For Better Security
Sweden has a different outlook on the defense of its homeland. The country does not have one or two centralized air bases. It disperses its aircraft to several different locations to protect them from a massive attack that could eliminate much of its air force. This is called the Bas 90 defense strategy that evolved from the historic wars in the Middle East when Israel was able to take out fleets of enemy airplanes that simply sat on the ground waiting to be destroyed.
The E/F can take off quickly and efficiently under the Bas 90 concept. This makes the newer Gripen much better at intercepting enemy airplanes and protecting NATO borders with expert air policing. The Gripen E/F can even take off and land on roads.
The E/F has better maneuverability, climbing rate, ceiling, and thrust-to-weight ratio than the baseline Gripen. Saab recognized the need to improve to keep pace with advances in fifth-generation and sixth-generation fighter jets.
It’s Like a Formula One Pitstop
New pilots can fly the improved Gripen without the training time that it takes to fly an F-35 or F-22. The E/F also allows quick take-off and landing. A mission can be executed, and then ground crews can refuel and re-arm, incorporate lessons learned from the prior flight, and send the Gripen E/F into the air again.
JAS 39 Gripen Taking Off. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The Gripen E/F is powered by a single General Electric F414 turbofan engine. This pushes out a respectable speed of MACH 2.0. This engine is 20 percent more fuel efficient than other powerplants that have propelled the earlier versions of the fighter. The E/F has a combat range of 930 miles that allows it to protect NATO allies from enemy incursion.
The E/F can be armed with METEOR beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles. This capability is important to 21st-century combat. The last large dogfight between Pakistan and India showed that BVR missiles were a considerable difference maker in that engagement. Pakistan’s Chinese-made J-10C fighters used the BVR PL-15 missile to shoot down at least one (maybe more, depending on media accounts) Indian Rafale.
The METEOR BVR would be a welcome addition to a dogfight if the Gripen E/F became engaged in one with Russia. There are also within-visual-range missiles for close-up battle.
The E/F is updatable as technology changes. It could potentially be operable with a Loyal Wingman drone someday. It will work well when flying with future European sixth-generation fighters like the FCAS and GCAP when those airplanes enter active duty for NATO.
The newer Gripen has software engineers drooling as they claim to be able to update systems from one day to the next, depending on what is learned by previous missions. This leads to a noteworthy central processing system to power the cockpit and strengthen pilot abilities. The Gripen E/F is a versatile “programmable” airplane with these innovations.
The E/F has infrared search and track (IRST) to better detect and engage enemy airplanes. This is seen as another broad strength of the newer Gripen.
In all, the Swedes have produced one winning fighter jet. The super maneuverability is a selling point, as is the upgradable software. I’m enthralled with its enhanced ability to engage in combat from beyond-visual-range, which will be a telling factor in future engagements with Russian airplanes should conflict happen. This is one of the top fighter jets for NATO and will give Putin’s air force a run for its money, and could be the deciding factor if the Russians continue to encroach on friendly airspace in Europe.
About the Author: Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for US Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former US Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
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Terry
September 22, 2025 at 2:14 pm
Isn’t the Ukranian air Force flight testing the Grippen?
Ron Fischer
September 22, 2025 at 4:59 pm
There are rumours that the Ukrainian AF has pilots training with Sweden for a post war Airforce loaded with Gripen jets
Ron Fischer
September 22, 2025 at 5:08 pm
Gripen would be a better choice for Canada then the F-35 for all the reasons listed but three are at the forefront of my mind. First it is an open platform that we would control completely. Second the idea that in a real war where your enemy can hit you, not some insurgents in the third world having to have a pristine runway where your planes can be picked off is idiotic, the dispersed road runway thing makes way more sense. Lastly Gripen can be bought in quantity and paired easily with loyal wingman drones, that is what we really need.