The JAS 39 Gripen is a 4.5- generation fighter jet.
The fifth-gen F-35 is one of the reasons why the Gripen has lost out on sales.
When going against US-made jets, it isn't a completely level playing field according to the CEO.
Why can't Sweden sell its advanced fighter? It's America's fault according to the CEO of the company. Other nations are more likely to buy the F-35 because of the US's clout.
"It is extremely frustrating, to say the least, and I can say that it's not about theGripen product that we have developed and manufactured," said the CEO of the company. If it had been a level playing field, we would have been better off.
The US has a lot of power in many countries. They are hard to work against.
When countries from Canada to India are shopping for fighters, the Gripen is a contender. It doesn't emerge as the winner often. The F-35 is its main opponent.
Finns decided to buy the F-35 to replace its aging US-made F/A-18EF Super Hornet jets, which is likely to anger Swedes.
Swiss voters said in a referendum that the Swiss Air Force shouldn't buy planes. The government signed a deal for 36 F-35s in September. The Czech Republic is going to purchase F-35s.
It seems like it's unfair. The Gripen is not a cutting-edge stealth aircraft, but it is considered a 4.5-generation fighter. It can fly at supersonic speed without resorting to a fuel-guzzling after burner.
It can carry missiles with a range of up to 80 miles. If fixed air bases are knocked out, it is possible to operate from improvised airstrips.
While several countries fly the Gripen, it has a much smaller customer base than the US.
Sweden is an odd country when it comes to defense. Despite being neutral in the World Wars and the Cold War, it has a huge arms industry that makes popular weapons, such as the AT-4 anti-tank rockets.
The way that the US, French, and other leaders lobby other nations to buy Swedish weapons is not aggressive by Swedish politicians.
Foreign governments want to be very sure of their relationship with each other since defense equipment lasts for decades and needs to be continually updated. The Swedish government seems to suggest to foreign governments that they are just not that into them when some companies bid with massive government support.
The far-right made gains in the recent election, despite the fact that Swedish governments tend to be liberal.
Jan Kallberg, a senior fellow with the Center for European Policy Analysis, said that Swedish politicians were more interested in discussing soft questions. They didn't want to push for arms sales. It's too late in the game when the sales cycle for arms is more than 10 years.
Arms sales are not fair.
Washington's goodwill may mean US support in a crisis for many nations.
Kallberg said that US influence came less from the US and more from Europeans. Europe wants stronger ties with the US as Russia gets more aggressive. The purchase of the F-35 makes it possible.
His work has been published in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He has a masters degree in political science. You can follow him on social networking sites.
Business Insider has an article on it.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
