JAS 39 Gripen – Not Stealth Like the F-35 But The Aircraft Ukraine Needs - Pending NATO member Sweden has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine since Russia launched its unprovoked invasion in February 2022. Stockholm has even considered donating its domestically-built JAS 39 Gripen – an aircraft that is practically tailor-made for the ongoing conflict.

Unlike the American-made F-16 Fighting Falcon, the Gripen – which is about three-quarters the empty weight of an F-16C – can operate from remote airfields with little ground support. It can maintain a high sink rate and is strengthened to withstand the stresses of short landings. In a pinch, it can operate from a highway or simple paved road.

JAS 39 Gripen in the Crosshairs

The Gripen is the first true Swedish multirole combat aircraft. In addition to being rugged enough to operate from little more than a remote road, it is capable of conducting interception, ground attack, and reconnaissance/surveillance missions. Though it is a mature program, having taken its first flight more than three decades ago, the aircraft remains highly capable and very agile.

It also important to note that the JAS 39 was developed at the end of the Cold War to confront Soviet aircraft, and thus would be an ideal warbird for Ukraine to employ in its war against Russia. The aircraft was initially designed to replace the variants of the Saab 35 Viggen and Saab 37 Draken combat aircraft. 

Development of what would become the Gripen began in the late 1970s as part of a joint effort by an industrial consortium that consisted of Saab, Saab Microwave Systems (formerly Ericsson), Volvo Aero Corporation, Saab Avitronics, and FFV Aerotech.

The government in Stockholm sought an aircraft that could be capable of fighter, attack, and recon missions. After evaluating a number of existing foreign aircraft including the American F-16 and F-18 fighters, the Swedish Parliament decided in June 1982 to move forward with a domestic project.

The Mach 2 delta wing and canard fighter jet feature two trailing-edge drooping "elevons" to improve short-field performance and maneuverability. It is equipped with fly-by-wire controls and is powered by a Volvo turbofan engine with an afterburner. It has a range of up to 3,200 km (2,000 miles) and can fly at an altitude of 15,240 meters (50,000 feet). It is reported to have a lower cost per flight hour than many other aircraft.

Grippen In Service

The Gripen made its maiden flight in December 1988, and it entered operational service with the Swedish Air Force in 1997. A total of 204 aircraft in three batches had been ordered by Swedish Air Forces, which to date has taken delivery of 74 aircraft.

The single-engine, multirole-combat aircraft was designed with a single pilot, but the B and D versions were also developed featuring a longer canopy for a crew of two. It is presently offered in two modern variants: C- and E-series, yet even those require some updates, and last month it was announced that the Gripen C-series would enter an "upgrade process" that could see those models remain in service until at least 2035.

As of 2016, a total of only 158 Gripens were produced and well over half are in service with the Swedish Air Force, with the rest having been exported around the globe. Current operators include Brazil, the Czech Republic, Hungary, South Africa, and Thailand, while the United Kingdom's Empire Test Pilots' School also operates Gripens in a training capacity.

Will Ukraine Get the JAS 39 Gripen?

The biggest question is whether Sweden could provide any of the aircraft that were designed for a war with Russia to aid Ukraine. Stockholm has remained uncommitted, but its center-right government has been seen to be inching ever closer.

In October, Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson said he had instructed Swedish military leadership to examine the potential impact of providing various types of support to Ukraine’s fighter-jet capability, including exporting or donating Gripen planes.

"Gripen has capabilities that are very relevant from a Ukrainian perspective," explained Pär Henriksson, a spokesperson for Saab, per Politico. "Maybe most importantly, Gripen was from the start designed to counter the threat from Russia."

Analysts at the Royal United Services Institute, a U.K. think tank, further noted in a report last year that the Swedish fighter is specifically equipped to counter Russia's fighter and surface-to-air missile radar.

What the Experts Told Us on the JAS 39

"The JAS 39 is simply one of the best warplanes on Earth, the best fighter that isn't a stealth F-22 or F-35," explained an ex-NATO military official. "While it won't be easy, the JAS 39 should be the skies over Ukraine fighting Russia MiGs. It could easily take on anything Putin would throw at it." 

Gripen Heading to Ukraine – Stockholm Might Have Conditions

Even some in Sweden's opposition parties have suggested that the Gripen could – and should be sent to aid Kyiv.

"We can't let Russia win," Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson also told reporters. "The Gripen would make a big difference for Ukraine."

It could all come down to NATO – as Sweden is holding out for NATO membership and its mutual defense commitments. Stockholm would like to know that NATO truly has its back (including the ever-critical Article 5), but it does appear that once its membership is approved, Ukraine could get an aircraft that could be a true game changer.

Author Experience and Expertise

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.

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