Any study of the Lightning or Viggen shows that they are not comparable at all, only in the fact that they were Mach 2 capable combat types!
The Saab 37 Viggen was a generation on from the English Electric Lightning, both in its ten year later development time frame and structures, powerplant, radar & avionics package.
The Lightning was a short range dedicated missile armed interceptor where the fastest speed possible at the time was the main factor, this was at the cost of having a confined structure which ensured a restricted fuel capacity, high pilot workload, and poor ground access, it also required high quality and long runways and handling kit to support it.
The Viggen was almost the other way around in that it was designed from the outset to be a rugged design which could be capable of operating from shorter and poorly prepared areas, be relatively easy to work on and maintain in harsh conditions.
As a type it was a multi-role medium-range fighter, attack, reconnaissance aircraft. It featured a very advanced integrated navigation, avionics, radar and weapons (mainly stand-off missiles) system which were mainly of stand-off type, all of which reduced the pilots workload immensely, in fact this was a major development issue at the time.
Probably most revolutionary was the fact that it was of canard layout, this was latter adopted quite widely on European jet fighters (Rafale, Typhoon, Gripen) and that it featured for the first time reverse thrust on an afterburning engine.
As I say the Viggen was a generation later than the British type,
Lightning design fixed 1952 (P.1), service 1959 – 1988.
Viggen proposal submitted in 1962 and served between 1972 – 2005.
Though both represent the pinacle of technology of their respective time frames, to my mind they are not comparable types. In fact due to its time scale it is hard to find a direct fighter comparison to the Viggen but the Jaguar seems as good as any in time, construction, ground support & operating (could use unprepared strips), and sub role wise, though the Jag obviously wasn’t regarded as a fighter, lacked radar, and was twin engined.
Jaguar proposal 1965, served 1973 – 2007 (RAF)
I’ve never seen a source that states how well the Viggen did against its rivals in excercises etc, I’m guessing it would have flown excercises alongside Phantoms, F-16s, & Mirages etc.
The Saab 35 Draken (served 1960 – 1993 Denmark, 2005 Austria) is more comparable to the Lightning in time, technology, and in its Mach 2 performance, thankfully you can view examples of both of these incredible Swedish types at Newark!
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