☰
×
Login Register an account
Top Submissions Explore Upgoat Search Random Subverse Random Post Colorize! Site Rules Donate
0

SAAB admits “extreme frustration” with regard to no sales of Gripen fighter jets in eight years, losing to contracts to F-35

submitted by Spaceman84 to Military 2.6 yearsSep 18, 2022 11:26:03 ago (+0/-0)     (mil.in.ua)

https://mil.in.ua/en/news/saab-admits-extreme-frustration-with-regard-to-no-sales-of-gripen-fighter-jets/



4 comments block

sort by: hot new top old low

[ - ] CPU 0 points 2.6 yearsSep 18, 2022 23:41:34 ago (+0/-0)

They should look into building cheap drone planes.

I think the point of the modern jets is to be a node among many drones. I don't have proof of this, but it makes sense.. well.. to me.

[ - ] Spaceman84 [op] 0 points 2.6 yearsSep 19, 2022 20:49:05 ago (+0/-0)

That idea has been floated. A more expensive piloted aircraft with the most advanced electronics providing targeting for a swarm of remotely controlled cheap drones. This could work but has never been demonstrated.

[ - ] Crackinjokes 1 point 2.6 yearsSep 18, 2022 11:46:05 ago (+1/-0)

I think so many sales of military equipment are actually just pay off to the different contractors arranged by the US government to get foreign governments to basically pay off US contractors who have supported whatever politicians are in charge of the US government in the military defense contracting areas. I'm sure there is some rationale for being able to cooperate with the United States and thus having the same fighter jets if they're an ally. But I imagine so much of this stuff is just pay off. The other thing that's odd is this particular jet doesn't seem like it's competitive at all with the f-35 so I don't know why they would even be bidding in cases where the f-35 was competing for the contract. They're two completely different capabilities in the jets. It would seem like this lower cost less capable jet would be more of an augmentation for a nation's Air Force in addition to an f-35 not competing with it.

[ - ] Spaceman84 [op] 1 point 2.6 yearsSep 18, 2022 12:05:41 ago (+1/-0)

The F-35 is supposed to be a relatively inexpensive multirole aircraft. The Gripen should win on cost alone for many poorer nations. Would you rather have one F-35 or four Gripen E? The Gripen is also faster and costs 1/5 as much per flight hour to operate.

The sole benefit of the F-35 is relations with the United States. And maybe parts availability.