In a recent 2021 competition organized by the Defence Department, the American-manufactured F-35 fighter jet outperformed its Swedish competitor, the Gripen, in terms of technical and military capabilities. The evaluation specifically assessed the ability of each aircraft to defend the North American continent and succeed in various missions against modern military adversaries.
The F-35 received a high score of 95 percent for military capabilities, totaling 57.1 points out of 60. In contrast, the Gripen-E scored 33 percent, securing 19.8 points out of 60, according to the Department of National Defence (DND) rankings disclosed by Radio-Canada. Notably, the disparity in scores was most notable in the categories of “mission performance” and potential for aircraft upgrades throughout its operational lifespan.
The DND refrained from providing detailed comments on the competition results, mentioning that the review process for the F-35 procurement is still ongoing. Experts and company representatives involved in the competition expressed surprise at the precise figures, with David Perry, president of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, emphasizing the clear superiority of the F-35 over the Gripen based on the capability assessment.
According to Justin Massie, a defense expert at Université du Québec à Montréal, the DND assessment highlighted that the Gripen’s military capabilities were consistently inferior to the F-35. The evaluation results are especially pertinent as Canada contemplates purchasing fewer F-35s in favor of Gripens. Yvan Blondin, a former Royal Canadian Air Force lieutenant-general, echoed these sentiments, affirming that the F-35’s advanced stealth and integration capabilities make it the top fighter jet globally.
Despite ongoing setbacks and delays in the F-35 development program, some argue that the selection criteria in the 2021 competition favored the F-35. The Canadian government eventually awarded the contract for 88 jets to Lockheed Martin, valued at over $27 billion, considering technical capabilities, long-term costs, and economic benefits.
As the government reviews its fighter jet procurement strategy, potential considerations include a mixed fleet comprising Gripens manufactured in Canada by Saab to create jobs domestically. Lockheed Martin pledged significant economic benefits over the contract’s lifespan, stressing the value of Canadian content in the jets delivered. Nevertheless, concerns were raised regarding the possible reduction in economic benefits if Canada alters its F-35 order quantity.
Experts advise against solely focusing on job creation when deciding on military aircraft purchases, emphasizing the importance of aligning acquisitions with long-term defense needs. While debates continue on the prospect of a mixed fleet, the evaluation results underscore the F-35’s dominance and the potential role of Gripens as complementary assets in Canada’s military strategy.
