Don’t take me wrong, there is certainly a balance of op condition where owning Meteor will bring a distinct advantage, but those occurrence are getting scarce when J20 or PakFa are the new norm.

We are talking about the situation today, not in 10 or 20 years… Why do you change the topic to a “future scenario”? Or do you really believe that J-20 and PAK FA are operational today?

Barring F-22 Huskit seems to rate Meteor as the crucial factor in determining the most effective BVR fighter. When Rafale gets it, Rafale will no doubt take number 2 position from Gripen… until Typhoon is equipped with Meteor, too, when Typhoon will displace Rafale as number 2.

The point is that as long as the opponent does not have anything similar to Meteor (and also does not fly the F-22), Gripen will be in a good position.

Sweden’s Saab remains committed to its offer of leasing the Malaysian government its JAS 39 Gripen C/D multirole fighter in a bid to kick-start the country’s stalled multirole combat aircraft (MRCA) programme, Thomas Linden, head of Saab Malaysia, said on 19 April.

Speaking at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) exhibition, Linden outlined the lease package being offered to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) to meet its stated requirement to replace its ageing fleet of Russian MiG-29N ‘Fulcrum-A’ fighters, which were originally scheduled to be retired by late 2010.

Read more: http://www.janes.com/article/59619/saab-looks-to-gripen-lease-to-kickstart-malaysia-s-mrca-programme

What would be the point of buying 36 Rafale with attendant costs for the type then setting up to make Typhoon or F/A-18 or whatever and having to pay the costs of introducing and supporting a second type?

Because that’s how they do it in India.

Saab is marketing the E model with the “halo” of it being a brand new 4.5gen design (opposed to say F-16 3gen design), light years away more advanced than its own C/D model, and on par with other fighters such as typhoon and rafale at relatively lower cost than those fighters. In reality its lightweight design has lots of compromises that doesn’t make it any more capable than say the latest f-16 upgrades.

Where do they say it’s “light years away more advanced than its own C/D model”? It is a quite big leap though, don’t you agree? New AESA radar, new computer system (including much faster databus), integration of world-class IRST, new GaN based AESA EWS system, new RWS, 40% more internal fuel, additional hard point, MTOW increased by 18%, improved data link, improved sensor fusion, etc. etc.

So far Switzerland and Brazil has chosen it — not too bad considering that the first prototype has not flown yet. The new F-16V has not won a single contract yet (apart as an upgrade to existing F-16 customers). Why is that so? Perhaps one reason is that it’s getting really old, and there are limits to how much you can upgrade such an old platform.

That was some years ago.

If the NG is really cheaper than the c/d, saab wouldn’t still market new c/d builds as a cheaper option to the NG.

http://www.janes.com/article/52239/paris-air-show-2015-saab-sees-continued-future-for-gripen-c-d-combat-aircraft

My understanding was that Saab expects production costs of the NG to be lower than the C/D — that does not mean that the price to customer is lower.

From the same article:

Specifically, Saab sees potential in Austria (C/D or E/F as a Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 1 replacement); Belgium, (E/F most likely); Botswana (C/D7); Bulgaria (C/D); Colombia (C/D or E/F); the Czech Republic (additional C/Ds); Ecuador (C/D or E/F); Finland (most likely for the E/F, depending on programme timelines); Hungary (additional C/Ds); India (E/F); Indonesia (C/D); Kenya (C/D); Malaysia (C/D); Mexico (C/D or E/F); Namibia (C/D); Peru (C/D or E/F); Philippines (C/D); Portugal (C/D); Slovakia (has selected the C/D, with a contract expected later this year); and Uruguay (C/D or E/F).

No mention of Brazil, Thailand, Vietnam and Switzerland, that surprises me?

Vietnam has elected a new defence minister to lead the country’s continuing programme of military modernisation.

http://www.janes.com/article/59429/vietnam-elects-new-defence-minister-to-drive-modernisation

According to some sources the international press, Vietnam has expressed interest in aircraft Gripen E / F to replace the interceptor MiG-21 retirement. However, the price is a huge barrier.

Google translated from: http://tintuc.vn/quan-su/tiem-kich-jas-39-gripen-viet-nam-quan-tam-co-them-hang-nong-117320

Saab has outlined its commitment to expand industrial alliances in Malaysia in a bid to enhance its presence in the market.

Dan Enstedt, president and CEO of Saab Asia Pacific, said in a statement on 8 April that the company’s strategy in Malaysia is focused on building partnerships that can support Saab’s efforts to supply the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) with a range of capabilities.

These include platforms such as the JAS 39 Gripen NG multirole fighter aircraft and systems such as electronic warfare, signature management, communications, surveillance, fire control and radars, warheads and combat management.

Read more: http://www.janes.com/article/59404/saab-looks-to-leverage-industry-ties-in-malaysia