How does the Gripen fighter jet compare to France's Rafale? Sweden has made a big offer to India; deal may be signed this month

New Delh: A deal on the Rafale fighter jet could be finalized between France and India this month. French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to visit New Delhi to attend the AI ​​Summit. Before this, approval for the Rafale fighter jet deal is expected from the Defence Acquisition Council. However, amidst all this, Swedish fighter jet company Saab has made a significant offer to India for its Gripen fighter jet. Saab had previously offered the Gripen fighter jet to India with technology transfer, but the Indian Air Force decided to go with the Rafale.

What has Saab offered India?

Now, once again, the Swedish defense company Saab has offered India the Gripen E fighter jet. It has put forward a tempting proposal to build "the world's most advanced aerospace industry" in India. Mikael Franzén, Chief Marketing Officer of Gripen and Vice President of Business Area Aeronautics at Saab, told journalists at the Singapore Airshow that the Gripen E is "the most modern and cost-effective fighter jet system on the market" and that it will significantly enhance the Indian Air Force's air power through world-leading sensor fusion, networking capabilities, and rapidly evolving artificial intelligence features.

The chances of the Indian military considering the Gripen are now quite low. Nevertheless, it is important to understand the capabilities of this fighter jet. In this report, we have compared the capabilities of the Gripen fighter jet with the Rafale fighter jet. We have used the Rafale F4 variant in this comparison, as the F4 variant has been proposed for purchase by the Indian Air Force.

How does the Saab Gripen fighter jet compare to the Rafale F4?

Engine - The Rafale F4 fighter jet has two engines, while the Saab Gripen E has one engine.
Payload Capacity - The Rafale has 14 hardpoints and a payload capacity of 9500 kg. The Saab Gripen E has 10 hardpoints and a payload capacity of 7200 kg.
Speed ​​- The Rafale has a speed of Mach 1.8, while the Saab Gripen has a speed of Mach 2.0. Both have supercruise capability.
Electronic Warfare - The Rafale has the SPECTRA suite, while the Saab Gripen has the Arexis suite.
Operational Capability - The Rafale can operate from both airbases and aircraft carriers (Rafale Marine). The Saab Gripen can operate from airbases and even roads.

Rafale's most dangerous capabilities - The Rafale's greatest strength lies in its hardpoints. This means it can carry a large number of different weapons. In addition, the Rafale has the capability to deliver nuclear weapons. Furthermore, the Rafale possesses electronic superiority. Its SPECTRA electronic warfare suite is considered one of the most advanced in the world, providing superior situational awareness and jamming capabilities.

Saab Gripen E's major capabilities - The Saab Gripen is designed to operate from very short runways or even highways, allowing it to be launched from a highway even after an attack on an airbase. Its biggest advantage is its low maintenance. It can be operated with a significantly smaller crew. It offers software flexibility. That is, it uses a unique hardware-independent architecture, allowing for rapid software updates without requiring recertification of flight-critical systems.

The new proposal that Sweden has given to India focuses on this aspect: that India can develop its own software and integrate Indian missiles, bombs, and other weapons into the aircraft according to its needs, without the company's permission or assistance.

Is Gripen cheaper to operate than the Rafale?

The Gripen is considerably cheaper to operate. Its estimated flight cost per hour is between $4,000 and $10,000, while the Rafale costs more than $14,000. This is why Brazil chose the Gripen over the Rafale due to its lower lifecycle cost and extensive technology transfer. However, the Rafale is unmatched by the Saab Gripen in deep strike and carrier operations.

"The Indian Air Force will fly whatever aircraft it gets. But the Rafale is now a proven aircraft. An ecosystem has developed around the Rafale in India. That's why the Air Force proposed the Rafale.  Besides, when India launched the MRFA (Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft) program, at least six fighter aircraft showed interest in the MRFA. But after several months of trials, the Rafale was chosen. That's why the Rafale is now the best option for India," former Indian Air Force fighter pilot Vijendra K. Thakur told the media.

Why India cannot buy the Saab Gripen instead of the Rafale?

India is about to finalize a government-to-government deal with France for 114 more Rafale jets, which is expected to cost approximately ₹3.25 lakh crore (US$36–38 billion). The Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, is expected to meet soon regarding the Rafale deal. During this meeting, it may give the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for this multi-billion-dollar purchase. Under this deal, there are plans to buy the F4 and F5 variants of the Rafale.

However, former Air Marshal M. Matheswaran, who worked on the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) project, wrote in the Eurasian Times that "India should definitely find a 'risk-sharing' partner, and India should explore geographical diversification with France regarding the Rafale."

"We should try to strike the most advantageous deal possible," Matheshwaran said. "We need to choose a partner. We need a risk-sharing partner for the AMCA and someone who can fill the gaps in the development of the LCA Mk2. Companies like Saab might be willing to take on this responsibility."