Why the Saab Gripen May No Longer Be a Serious Contender for India’s Future Fighter Requirement

For years, Saab’s JAS-39 Gripen has been one of the most persistent contenders in India’s search for a new multi-role fighter aircraft. The Swedish company has repeatedly highlighted the aircraft’s low operating costs, advanced avionics, rapid maintenance cycle, and extensive technology-transfer offers. However, recent remarks by former Indian Air Force (IAF) officials suggest that the Gripen may no longer be a realistic candidate for India’s future fighter acquisition plans.

The central issue is not the capability of the aircraft itself. The Gripen E/F is widely regarded as a modern 4.5-generation fighter with advanced sensors, beyond-visual-range combat capability, and impressive operational flexibility. Saab has also offered significant industrial cooperation, including local production, technology transfer, and the possibility of transforming India into a manufacturing hub for the aircraft.

However, India’s strategic priorities have evolved considerably over the last decade. According to former Air Marshal G.S. Bedi, the IAF appears to have made a long-term preference for twin-engine combat aircraft when it comes to major foreign acquisitions. This approach is reflected in the continued importance of platforms such as the Rafale and Su-30MKI, both of which offer greater payload capacity, range, and operational redundancy for the demanding missions faced by the IAF.

Another factor working against the Gripen is the growing maturity of India’s indigenous fighter programmes. The Tejas Mk1A is entering service, the Tejas Mk2 is progressing toward development, and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme is expected to become the cornerstone of India’s future air combat strategy. Since the Tejas family already fulfills the lightweight single-engine fighter category, the Gripen risks becoming a solution for a requirement that India is increasingly capable of meeting domestically.

A Saab JAS-39 Gripen fighter aircraft displayed during an air show, symbolizing Sweden's bid for the Indian Air Force fighter acquisition program amid shifting priorities toward indigenous and twin-engine platforms.

At the same time, reports indicate that India is moving closer to expanding its Rafale fleet under the Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) requirement. The advantage of commonality with existing Rafale squadrons, simplified logistics, pilot training, and maintenance infrastructure makes the French aircraft an attractive option for the IAF.

The broader strategic environment also plays a role. With China fielding advanced stealth fighters and Pakistan expected to enhance its own air combat capabilities, India’s focus is increasingly shifting toward fifth-generation platforms and advanced indigenous technologies. In this context, programmes such as AMCA, alongside potential future collaborations on advanced fighter technologies, appear more aligned with India’s long-term objectives than the acquisition of another imported single-engine fighter.

None of this diminishes the strengths of the Gripen. It remains a capable and successful aircraft that has recently secured export orders from multiple countries. Yet defence procurement is often determined as much by strategic priorities as by technical merit. For India, the combination of Rafale expansion, indigenous Tejas production, and the ambition to field the AMCA may have effectively closed the door on the Gripen’s chances in the IAF’s future fighter fleet.