My comments in previous posts focussed on the export version. After all the title of this thread is: “New Gripen JAS39″NG” unveiled and giving JSF a run for its money…. There is no prospect of the US buying the Gripen, nor of Sweden buying the F-35, so it I take it that this thread is about the prospects of both aircraft in the export market.

I agree that it is difficult to know what the actual performance capabilities of the F-35 are. That becomes even more difficult when speaking of the export version since it is unclear if stealth is going to be compromised for non-US F-35’s.

Thanks for the link. I had a look at it. It looks to me like a list of intentions and aspirations. Some extracts:

The F-35 is designed to replace aging fighter inventories including U.S. Air Force A-10s and F-16s, U.S. Navy F/A-18s, U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers and F/A-18s, and U.K. Harrier GR.7s and Sea Harriers. With stealth and a host of next-generation technologies, the F-35 will be far and away the world’s most advanced multi-role fighter. There exists an aging fleet of tactical aircraft worldwide. The F-35 will solve that problem.

Is it designed to replace any air superiority fighters?

In providing that solution, the Joint Strike Fighter program has since day one had four program pillars:

Affordable
All variants of the F-35 will be procured within their target cost range. Operation and support costs will be dramatically reduced.

I think it probably became impossible for all variants of the F-35 to be procured within their target cost range years ago. Only way that would be possible would be if every $billion increase in development cost was matched by a $billion decrease in build cost.

Lethal
Air-to-ground precision strikes in all weather … air-to-air combat engagements – every F-35 variant will be highly effective in both arenas.

I have expressed my reservations about this claim in previous posts.

Survivable
Stealthy, high-performance, supersonic strike fighters – The F-35 successfully integrates the technologies that will make every mission more survivable.

If other fighters can see it sooner due to impaired LO, survivability will be compromised.

Supportable
Reliability and maintainability – The F-35 will be setting new standards for both, enabling lower support costs and easier upgrades than legacy aircraft.

Pleased to hear it. I have no reason to doubt it.

I personally have no insider info on how well the F-35 performs A/G or A/A, but I know the specs/requirements for the F-35 were to be at least 4x more capable than legacy fighters in A/A, and second only to the F-22. Whether or not this is true or PR, I have no idea, but it would at least give some credence that it is far more than a bomb truck with self defense missiles.

Yes, the -15Ks and SGs will be better than that. Their AESAs will see further, among other things. For that matter, they’ll see further than the one in the F-22.

Further than an F-22 not using LPI mode?

Why would the interceptor pilot be stupid enough to show his cards by lighting up his radar? Instead he can either wait for the intruder to reavel himsel with his radar or go in close from a favourable position for a heat seeking missile.

The interceptor could use its datalink to reacive information passively with very little transmission if any. It would therefore not provide the intruder with a firing solution or even a location.
Wether the GCI can give the interceptor enough information for guiding a missile without using its own radar depends on the resolution of the ground radars and capability of the datalink. Todays GCI can probably not do that against LO aircraft, but the development in that area is not standing still either.

Unless the interceptor was LO, they should show up on the stealth fighter’s radar long before they’re in range for an IR missile shot.