Key Points and Summary – Sweden’s JAS 39 Gripen is a fast, capable, and affordable fighter, yet its export success is surprisingly limited.
-The primary obstacle is not the jet’s performance but geopolitics.
JAS 39 Gripen Taking Off. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
JAS 39 Gripen. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
-Its American-made General Electric engine subjects it to U.S. export controls, a critical vulnerability that has derailed potential sales and allows Washington to pressure allies into buying American jets instead.
-Competing against the F-35, Sweden’s own strict export laws, and a lack of a combat-proven record further hinder the Gripen’s ability to capture a larger share of the highly competitive global fighter market.
Why Doesn’t Sweden Sell More Of The JAS 39 Gripen
The JAS 39, often just called the Gripen, earned its baptism of fire after nearly 30 years of active service, as skirmishes broke out between Thailand and Cambodia.
The Gripen is a fast, highly maneuverable, multi-role fighter aircraft developed by Sweden.
It’s known for its cost-efficient operation, advanced avionics, and agility.
But for as good an aircraft as the Gripen is, one would think that Sweden would sell many more of the fighters. But they do not.
JAS 39 Gripen in 2 Words: No Sales?
Sweden doesn’t sell more JAS 39 Gripens due to the dominance of stealth aircraft like the F-35, for which many nations show a preference, the reliance on US components, potential export restrictions, and a lack of combat testing to prove its capabilities against modern threats.
Sweden has a need to maintain its current JAS 39 Gripen fleet for national defense against threats like Russia. Other countries, like Ukraine, also prefer familiar NATO aircraft such as the F-16, which offers greater commonality within existing air forces.
However a big part of the reason that Sweden doesn’t sell as many of the outstanding JAS 39 Gripen aircraft is due to geopolitical factors like the presence of superior F-35s and Eurofighters, the complexity of the Gripen’s American engine and its associated US export restrictions, and a historical reliance on domestic defense and a lack of international partnerships to support large-scale production and export.
Additionally, concerns about internal conflicts or political issues in potential client countries often lead Sweden to restrict exports under its strict arms export regulations.
Washington Exerts Pressure on Sales
The US uses pressure on its allies to buy American and forego the Saab superb aircraft.
In 2008, Norway was put under pressure to reconsider its impending decision to procure the JAS 39E and quickly moved instead to an F-35 procurement.
There have since been numerous other examples. Poland chose the F-16 over the JAS 39 even though Saab offered a much more generous offset package. The Finns chose the F-35, despite the Saab offer of JAS-39 and GlobalEye being a better fit for their needs.
The American Engine Becomes A Major Sticking Point In JAS 39 Sales
The JAS 39 Gripen has an outstanding power-to-weight ratio, being powered by a single General Electric F414 turbofan engine, and can reach maximum speeds of Mach 2 (approximately 1,500 miles per hour).
The F414-GE-39E, a single-engine variant of the proven F414-GE-400, has been chosen to power Saab’s Next Generation Gripen aircraft.
The General Electric engine allows the Gripen E to supercruise without having to engage the afterburners. GE has said that utilizing new fuels would increase the range by up to 20 percent.
However, if the JAS 39 Gripen has one major flaw that stops it from being sold more in the export market, it isn’t the lack of stealth holding it back. It is the American-made engine, the General Electric F414G, tying it to US export controls.
This Achilles’ Heel has sparked setbacks, like the stalled Colombia deal in 2025, and raised doubts about Gripen’s global future. From geopolitical leverage to market risks, the engine that powers this Swedish fighter might also be its most significant vulnerability.
Sweden is currently incapable of building a modern jet engine, and so it relies on the GE F414G. In fact, only two Western countries in Europe produce jet engines: the UK, with Rolls-Royce, and France, with Safran.
JAS 39 Gripen. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The Saab JAS 39E Gripen is Sweden’s modern multi-role fighter, built specifically for versatility and resilience against Russian threats. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Around two-thirds of the components and systems found on the Gripen are from Swedish or other European suppliers.
The remaining third is from US-based suppliers. It is unclear what percentage of the jet is actually produced in Sweden, but it is likely much less than 50 percent.
Could Canada Become A JAS 39 Gripen User?
The Gripen is an outstanding aircraft. Canada signed a contract with the US to buy F-35s, but it is now considering ditching the deal due to the tariff issue and its poor relationship with Washington and President Trump.
Although the Canadian Air Force would be better off with an F-35, some in the Canadian government would like a combined air fleet of F-35s and Gripens. This would make things more difficult from a logistical and training standpoint.
As we have often posted here, the Gripen is the best fighter aircraft not named the F-22 or F-35. It is a badass fighter ideally suited to Sweden’s defensive strategy.
It should be selling more than it is right now.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
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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