In their recent competition Bulgaria ranked Gripen C first, with a score of 0.9; Typhoon tranche 1 was ranked second, 0.61 points.

Portugal’s offer – with a US logistics package – was not classified “because of its price proposal mismatch with RFP requirements.”

http://www.investor.bg/biudjet-i-finansi/333/a/mo-potvyrdi-che-shvedskite-gripen-i-se-odobreni-za-novi-boini-samoleti-na-vss-241714/

The Swedish Air Force is plowing SEK2 billion (U.S.$230 million) into new equipment to allow it to resume Cold War–style operations from road runways.
The money is being invested in equipment for snow clearance and rapid runway repairs, Maj. Gen. Mats Helgesson, chief of the Swedish Air Force, told journalists in Paris on June 18.

Sweden has famously deployed its jets onto highways and general aviation airfields since the early years of the Cold War to increase their chances of surviving an expected Soviet attack. The dispersed basing systems such as the Ba90 actually shaped the requirements of Swedish fighters, in particular the Viggen and more recently the Gripen.
However, the skill of operating from roads has faded since the end of the Cold War, and Sweden’s focus on more international operations meant the need for the practice has gone away. However, the resurgence of a more belligerent Russia, military activity in the Baltic and a renewed Swedish focus on national defense has prompted the air force to return to the regimen.

Helgesson said the air force was “very heavily investing in this [capability] right now,” as it faced unfriendly neighbors, in reference to Russia.

http://aviationweek.com/paris-air-show-2017/sweden-increases-spending-dispersed-operations

Since we are talking about road bases…

As I said; Belgium and Canada are far fetched. Not impossible, but far fetched. As with all large international fighter competitions, it would be a huge defeat not to participate. Even if there is a slight chance, it’s a chance worth taking.

Well, and Loke could also participate in the Olympics — who knows, perhaps all the others would become ill (stomach pain or something) and Loke would win?

I must admit I am realistic about my chances of winning the Olympics, and this is why I never bothered to try to attend that event….

Boeing did the rational thing in Belgium, IMHO: They looked at the Belgium document and concluded that this was for the F-35 to win, and pulled out. Just like Loke decided that the chances of winning the Olympics are rather slim, Boeing concluded the same in Belgium.

Gripen has on additional challenge compared to the SH in that it is much smaller and lighter, making it even more challenging to execute those missions with a 4-ship only.

Wellerocks I suggest you look at the appendix to the Belgium RFI that describes various missions. Think about how realistic it is that a 4-ship of Gripen will succeed in completing all those missions. Keep in mind the Gripens will need targeting pods and drop tanks, most likely not needed on the F-35.

Gripen E will be a fantastic fighter, I am sure. However one should be realistic and accept that it is a) a light-weight fighter, and b) it is a 4.5 gen not 5. gen fighter.

The F-35 is in a different league alltogether, there have been so many statements from pilots having flown the F-35 that one should basically just accept this. The F-35 is a quantum leap in capabilities.

Of course the great capabilities of F-35 will not reduce the capabilities of the Gripen E, which will also be very capable. However if you start comparing the two and look at the most demanding missions you will realize that you need much more Gripen than F-35 for the most demanding missions; and you may also have a bigger need for e.g., stand-off weapons; tankers; and perhaps even AEW systems like GlobalEye to get an SA more comparable to what the F-35 can offer.

There has been a lot of talk about combining the Gripen with a stealthy UCAV; this could perhaps also be a way forward.

Well I think we have had some kind of breakthrough recently… even MSphere has gone silent?

Longer ranges sensors? How do you know that? And in what the Gripen solution would be less “comprehensive” than F-35. There may also be a huge gap in CFPH.

Well, the F-35 radar has definitely much longer range — also the DAS system give unique SA to the pilot. However it is really the combination of stealth, sensors and sensor fusion which is key.

Gripen no doubt has great sensors and sensor fusion however it lacks stealth, and the sensors are not as good. There was big gap in sensor capabilities in the Norwegian competition between Gripen and F-35, perhaps this has changed since then but I would think the F-35 sensors are still ahead. One should also keep in mind F-35 will develop and improve it’s sensors to a very great extent, the US will not allow the F-35 sensor to be “behind”. And again don’t forget about the stealth….

Look at how SH and Typhoon fared compared to the F-35 in the Danish competition — those graphs are around the net. For the most demanding missions there is a significant difference. Looking at the scenarios in the Belgium competition (which seems to be specially designed to “favor” the F-35) I think this will become even more clear. A 4-ship of F-35 will manage to execute missions that a 4-ship of Gripen will not succeed to execute. Perhaps the Rafale F4 will get closer, but I suspect even the Rafale F4 will struggle; and moreover the Rafale F4 will be more expensive… why pay more to get less?