Sweden Delays Gripen Jets to Ukraine: How Does Fighter Compare to F-16?

While Ukraine eagerly awaits the first shipments of F-16 fighter jets from its Western allies to counter Russia’s air advantage, Sweden says it will temporarily halt its plans to deliver its own advanced fighter jets to Kyiv.

Swedish officials say the pause in delivery of Gripen jets is only meant to ensure that the planned delivery of F-16 jets to Ukraine proceeds smoothly.

“We were persuaded by other members of the aviation coalition to wait with Gripen,” said Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonsson on Tuesday. “Now the focus for Ukraine is to implement a program to accept F-16 aircraft.”

The Gripen is one of the most modern Western-made fighter jets and could challenge the Russian Sukhoi and Mikoyan in terms of maneuverability. Ukraine has decided to opt for the more reliable F-16s, at least for now, hoping they will help match the aerial capabilities of Russia’s fleet.

The American fighters will replace Ukraine’s strained fleet of MiG-29s, Su-24s, and Su-25s — jets that came of age during the Cold War and whose capabilities are well known to the Russians. Pilot training is estimated to take six to eight months, with Belgium and Denmark expecting to transfer 30 and 19 jets, respectively, in the coming weeks and the Netherlands planning a similar timeline.

Here’s what we know about the Gripen jets that Ukraine might receive from Sweden after mastering the F-16.

The JAS 39 Gripen: Versatility

The JAS 39 Gripen, developed by the Swedish firm Saab, has been essential for various air forces since its introduction in 1996. Known for its agility and cost-effectiveness, it is used by Brazil, the Czech Republic, Hungary, South Africa and Thailand.

Designed as a lightweight, multirole fighter, the Gripen combines advanced avionics, radar, and weapon systems and emphasizes its ease of maintenance, quick turnaround, and operational flexibility, allowing it to perform effectively in diverse mission scenarios.

The Gripen can reach speeds over Mach 2 (about 1,500 mph) and operate at altitudes up to 50,000 feet. It has a combat radius of about 500 miles with internal fuel and a ferry range of about 2,300 miles with external tanks.

Equipped with advanced radar systems like the PS-05/A and Raven ES-05 AESA radar, the Gripen can track multiple targets both in the air and on the ground with high precision. The jets are fitted to carry a wide range of weapons, including air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground munitions and precision-guided bombs.

The war in Ukraine has shown that certain weapons, including long-range missiles, can be adapted to different aircraft, and Western cruise missiles are likely easier to adapt to Gripens than to Soviet MiG-29s and Su-27s of the Ukrainian Air Force.

The Gripen E, the more advanced version of the jet, offers improved avionics, enhanced electronic warfare capabilities, and superior interoperability with NATO systems. It features advanced sensors, network connectivity and the ability to perform electronic attacks and defend against modern threats.

One key advantage of the Gripen over the F-16 is its low maintenance cost and ability to operate from unprepared runways and even civilian highways.

F-16: Reliability

The F-16 has been a cornerstone of many air forces since the late 1970s, with a reputation for flexibility and maneuverability.

Initially designed as a lightweight air superiority day fighter, it has evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Various upgrades over the years have enhanced the F-16’s radar, avionics, and weapon systems.

Like the Gripen, the F-16 can fly at speeds over Mach 2 (about 1,500 mph) and operate at altitudes up to 50,000 feet. Its combat radius is shorten than that of the F-16 — about 340 miles compared — with internal fuel and a ferry range exceeding 2,000 miles with external tanks.

The F-16 includes upgraded radar systems like the AN/APG-68, which provides 25 air-to-air and air-to-ground modes, allowing it to track targets over a range of more than 60 miles. It also features a frameless bubble canopy for enhanced visibility, a side-mounted control stick for easier maneuvering, and an advanced fly-by-wire flight control system that improves agility.

But the jet, for all its versatility, has a major drawback: maintenance. A report by the U.S. General Accounting Office last year ranked the F-16 as one of the most difficult Air Force planes to maintain. Experts say extensive training, which takes about nine months, and setting up systems for maintenance, refueling, and ammunition supply is necessary for the F-16s to be effective.

Kyiv hopes to integrate these jets into its air force immediately upon receipt, though the training necessary suggests it won’t be easy. Recently, the first group of Ukrainian pilots passed an F-16 training program in Arizona, according to a statement given to Politico by the U.S. Air National Guard last week. A separate group of Ukrainian aviators also recently completed an F-16 maintenance training program in the Netherlands, Dutch officials said.