Forget Going to Fly for Canada: F-22 Has a Message for the JAS 39 Gripen

Key Points: The Swedish JAS-39 Gripen and the American F-22 Raptor are exceptional fighters with distinctly different roles and strengths.

-The Gripen prioritizes affordability, flexibility, and ease of maintenance, excelling in short-runway operations and multi-role missions.

-Conversely, the stealthy F-22 dominates air-to-air engagements with unmatched stealth, supercruise speed, and thrust-vectoring maneuverability.

-While the Gripen boasts advanced avionics and networked communications, the F-22 surpasses it in sensor integration and battlefield data-sharing.

-Ultimately, the Gripen provides versatile and cost-effective performance, whereas the Raptor remains unparalleled in achieving air superiority, standing as arguably the most advanced fighter jet in service today.

JAS 39 vs. F-22 Fighter

The Swedish JAS-39 Gripen and the U.S. F-22 Raptor are both outstanding air-superiority airframes. The Gripen is gaining popularity, and it is now in use by a handful of countries. Only the U.S. Air Force, on the other hand, is allowed to fly the F-22.

At the time of its introduction to service, the U.S. considered the technology so secret that it did not want to share the Raptor with anyone.

But how do these aircraft compare?

Differences In Purposes and Designs

Both the Gripen and the Raptor boast excellent capabilities, but they serve different purposes and have distinct design philosophies.

The Gripen’s design emphasizes cost-effectiveness, versatility, and ease of maintenance, contrasting with the Raptor’s unwavering focus on stealth, unmatched situational awareness, and air superiority.

The Gripen has a superior ability to take off from short and rough runways, which matches it well to Sweden’s defensive needs. The Gripen is primarily a multi-role fighter designed for air defense, ground attack, and reconnaissance missions. The Raptor is a different kind of bird—primarily an air superiority fighter designed to gain and maintain dominance over contested airspace.

Maintenance and Supportability

The Gripen is designed for ease of maintenance, prioritizing rapid turnarounds and high availability. Its design emphasizes quick refueling and rearming. It can operate from a variety of locations, including dispersed bases.

The Gripen’s support system is designed to be highly flexible and adaptable to a customer’s specific needs, according to Saab.

The F-22 Raptor has been criticized for its complex maintenance requirements, which contribute to its high operational costs.The Raptor can cost from $44,000 to $70,000 per flight hour. This includes fuel, maintenance, and other operational costs. The F-22’s advanced stealth technology contributes to its high maintenance needs.

Stealth Capability

There is no comparison in the stealth category. After all, the Gripen was never intended to be a stealth aircraft, while the fifth-generation Raptor is one of the stealthiest aircraft in the world. 

Speed and Altitude JAS-39 vs. F-22

The Gripen has a top speed of Mach 2 and a maximum altitude of approximately 50,000 feet, while the Raptor’s top speed is Mach 2.25, and it can reach a maximum altitude over 65,000 feet. It can also supercruise at Mach 1.5.

The Gripen’s top speed can be a bit misleading, as it was registered while “clean,” meaning the plane had no missiles or bombs hanging on pods beneath its wings. 

Maneuverability

The Gripen has very good agility and is renowned for its exceptional maneuverability, particularly in air-to-air combat scenarios. This is due to a combination of factors, including its lightweight design, high thrust-to-weight ratio, and unique delta-canard wing configuration.

The F-22, however, is considered one of the most maneuverable fighters in the world, boasting thrust-vectoring capabilities that enable super-maneuverability. It can climb, spin, roll, fall, and loop faster, tighter, and more smoothly than any other fighter.

Sensors and Avionics

The Gripen is equipped with advanced avionics and sensor systems, including its radar and electronic warfare (EW) capabilities. With the new systems architecture and avionics in the Gripen E, integration of sensors and actuators is performed in a layered manner rather than the more traditional “silo” structure.

F-22 Raptor. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

F-22 Raptor.

The F-22 has state-of-the-art sensors and avionics, including advanced radar, EW, and sensor-fusion capabilities. The Raptor’s avionics sensors are designed to provide the pilot with comprehensive situational awareness, enabling them to detect, track, and engage threats before being detected themselves.

Key sensor systems include the AN/APG-77 Active Electronically Scanned Array radar, the Infrared Defensive System, and advanced infrared search and tracking sensors.

Networking and Data Sharing: Can JAS-39 Compete?

The F-22 Raptor is known for its ability to serve as a network node in a broader air battle management system (ABMS), sharing critical data with other friendly aircraft.

The Air Force continues to develop the ABMS, hoping to create a network of interconnected systems for sharing data and controlling operations. 

The Gripen also has data-sharing capabilities and can operate within a network-centric warfare environment, albeit on a smaller scale.

The Gripen E carries a more advanced battlefield communication system, allowing it to easily share radar contacts and other information between aircraft.

The F-22 is still considered the best fighter aircraft in the world, at least until the F-47 becomes operational. It is a more advanced and capable air-superiority fighter than the Gripen.

Its stealth, speed, maneuverability, and advanced weapons systems give it a significant edge in air combat against any opponent. 

The JAS-39 Gripen is a lighter, more affordable fighter that is well-suited for various roles, but it is not as effective as the F-22 in overall combat.

However, the Gripen is considered by many aviation experts as the best fighter jet not named F-22 or the F-35.

About the Author:

Steve Balestrieri is a 19FortyFive National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing for 19FortyFive, 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.