Thailand Buying JAS-39 Gripens, AWACS

It's a small, agile fighter that can take off and land on highways, while carrying the latest technologies and weapons. It does very well against NATO's best aircraft in exercises, comes with a reasonable price tag, and is built for low lifetime operating costs. But in a world where people often buy your weapons because they want you to be their friend, the cachet of having Sweden in your corner isn't quite what it used to be when their sailors wore those cool helmets.

The JAS-39 Gripen is an excellent, reasonably-priced fighter that has been struggling hard for traction in the global marketplace. "The JAS-39 Gripen: Sweden's 4th Generation Wild Card" looks at this capable lightweight fighter and its market opportunities, and wonders if Gripen will be "the little fighter that could" – or the last fighter from a storied aviation industry.

A recent sale to Thailand has expanded Saab's horizons somewhat, as the Gripen beat out the SU-30s favored by the previous Thai government to replace its 15-25 aging F-5B/Es; other reported candidates were Russia's MiG-29 and France's Rafale, and the F-16 had been considered a leading contender given Thailand's extensive history with that aircraft. In order to achieve this win, however, Saab has to throw in a very significant "something extra" – and the sale itself runs future political risks due to Thailand's situation…

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