JAS 39 Gripen: The Best NATO Fighter Not Named F-35?

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Key Points: Sweden’s Saab JAS 39 Gripen C fighter jet has begun its NATO air defense missions, marking a significant milestone since Sweden joined the alliance in 2024.

-Known for its cost-effectiveness, adaptability, and ability to operate from short runways, the Gripen C is well-suited for NATO’s air policing, particularly in the Baltic region where Russian incursions are frequent.

-While Ukraine opted for F-16s over the Gripen, the Swedish jet’s performance in NATO operations could boost its appeal for future missions or potential export. NATO is likely to lean on Sweden’s air force to secure its skies against Russian threats.

Sweden’s JAS 39 Gripen C Defends NATO Airspace Against Russian Threats

Sweden’s JAS 39 Gripen C Fighter Earning Its Wings With NATO: We know what you are saying. Yes, Sweden is now a NATO member, but the Scandinavian country has a reputation as a peace-loving land of wonder that minds its own business and focuses on “butter” for its citizens and not “guns” for its military.

Well, you would be surprised to know that the Swedes operate one of the best fighter jets in Europe. The Saab JAS 39 Gripen C is now making its presence felt and it has received an important new mission – protect the alliance from the bad guys – namely Russia.

Defending NATO In the Air

On October 29, the Swedish military announced a new feat. The JAS 39 Gripen C flew its first NATO-controlled air defense mission since joining the alliance earlier in 2024. The Swedish air force is excited that it can pull its own weight in NATO. This is an important milestone that shows the Swedes are ready to look outward at the modern threat environment in Europe and not simply focus on defense of the Homeland. 

“Earlier this year, Sweden underwent a validation process in which the [Swedish] Air Force [SwAF] was approved for operations in NATO’s incident preparedness. The air force’s incident preparedness is now an integral part of NATO’s air defense,” the Swedish Armed Forces said in a statement heralding the new mission.

The Gripen Can Conduct the Air Policing Mission With Aplomb

This Gripen C patrol was part of the NATO Joint Incident Response Force “air policing” role. There are many NATO members that could use help with their air defenses that must respond to challenges 24-7. The Baltic region is where NATO air policing is needed most. The Russians are close by, and there are many ethnic Russians and Russian speakers in Baltic countries that the Kremlin would love to annex by force. Moscow is more concerned with Ukraine, of course, but the Russian air force is always looking for soft spots in NATO air defenses. They will fly in a country’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) immediately. This is where Sweden’s air force comes in to protect from these incursion operations from Vladimir Putin’s fighter planes and bombers.

More About the Gripen

The JAS 39 Gripen C is perfect for the air police role. The Mach-2 delta wing and canard fighter jet is powered by a Volvo turbofan engine with an afterburner. It has a range of up to 2,000 miles and has a ceiling of 50,000 feet. It also has a cheaper cost per flight hour than many other fighters in NATO.

JAS 39 Gripen. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

According to Saab, the Gripen can refuel and rearm in 10 minutes and head back into combat. As with all Swedish fighters made since the 1950s, it can take off from short runways, including improved roads and highways. It requires a surface just 52 feet wide and 1,600 feet long to take off. That is an exceedingly small runway. That would be better than the F-16, which requires a much bigger runway.

Should the Gripen Be Sent to Ukraine?

The Swedish government considered sending the JAS 39 Gripen to Ukraine but decided against it due to Ukraine preferring the F-16. However, the Ukrainians have been slow to take to the F-16. The Ukrainian Air Force has been confronted with difficulty training new pilots. The air force doesn’t know whether to use more experienced and older Ukrainian pilots with combat experience or newer, fresh-faced recruits who may have better hand-eye coordination and proficiency with English.

Keep the Gripen In Mind for Ukraine

Some are still calling for the Gripen to be sent to Ukraine since it can fly off the smaller runways as noted above and because it is such an all-around quality jet. Perhaps if it flies more on NATO missions, it can show the alliance’s members that the Gripen is primed for export to Ukraine.

JAS 39 from Sweden. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

But overall, Brussels should be overjoyed to bring the Swedes into the aerial defense mission, mainly to protect the Baltics. The Russians are often up to no good and will fly into a country’s ADIZ at will. The JAS 39 Gripen C is superior to many Russian fighters and is one of the best jets in Europe.

Look for NATO to depend on the Swedish Air Force to fly even more missions for the alliance in the coming years.

About the Author: Dr. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.