In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, India has stepped on the accelerator to modernise its air force — and that urgency has triggered a fresh contest among foreign defence firms eager to win a share of Indian skies. The latest gambit comes from Sweden's defence and aerospace major Saab, which has offered not merely to sell its advanced Gripen E fighter but to hand over the technology behind it. According to senior sources, the Swedish company is in continuous talks with India on the matter.
Why India Needs New Fighters Right Now
India is reshaping its air strength on several fronts at once. The AMCA project has been launched to build fifth- and sixth-generation fighter jets using indigenous technology. To meet more immediate needs, preparations are underway to buy 114 Rafale jets from France. On top of that, the gap in stealth fighters is being weighed seriously. The goal is clear: until home-grown aircraft roll out under AMCA, India wants at least two to three squadrons of fifth-generation fighters in hand.
Three Nations, Three Pitches
To plug that gap, Russia has offered its fifth-generation Su-57 stealth fighter. Notably, Moscow is willing to go in for co-production and even share the source code. France, by contrast, has so far declined to share the Rafale's source code. That is what makes Sweden's entry significant. Saab has once again pushed the Gripen E forcefully, saying it is ready to provide not just the aircraft but full technology transfer along with production, maintenance, design and upgrade capabilities within India. Interestingly, the offer to share source code has now come from both Russia and Sweden, which is likely to sharpen the strategic debate between the Gripen E and the Su-57.
Rafale: A 4.5-Generation Omnirole Warrior
The French-built Rafale is a twin-engine, 4.5-generation multirole fighter. Its single biggest strength is its omnirole capability — meaning it can perform several tasks at once in a single mission, such as air-to-air, air-to-ground and reconnaissance.
On power and speed, it is fitted with two Snecma M88 turbofan engines. The jet can hit a top speed of Mach 1.8, roughly 1,900 km/h, and operate at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet.
Its weapons-carrying ability is formidable too. The Rafale can fly with up to 9.5 tons of external weapons and payload. Its 14 hardpoints can mount a variety of missiles and bombs, including the Meteor, MICA, the SCALP cruise missile and the HAMMER guided bomb.
On sensors and survivability, it carries the Thales RBE2 AESA radar, capable of tracking multiple targets simultaneously over long ranges. The SPECTRA electronic warfare system helps it detect enemy radar and missile threats and evade them. It also mounts a 30 mm GIAT 30 cannon, while the Front Sector Optronics (FSO/OSF) infrared search-and-track system lets it spot and shadow enemy aircraft without ever switching on its radar.
Gripen E: Light, Nimble and Mission-Ready
Saab's JAS 39 Gripen is a light, single-engine multirole fighter able to carry out air-to-air, air-to-ground and reconnaissance missions.
On speed and range, the Gripen E is impressive. It is powered by a General Electric F414G turbofan that generates up to 98 kN of thrust. The aircraft can reach a top speed of Mach 2, around 2,450 km/h, and has a ferry range of roughly 4,000 km.
One of its standout features is its ability to take off from and land on short runways with limited facilities. Its turnaround time is also extremely low, allowing it to be redeployed quickly in combat conditions.
When it comes to weapons, the Gripen E has 10 hardpoints capable of carrying up to 7,200 kg of weapons and other payload. It is armed with the Meteor BVR (Beyond Visual Range) missile, the IRIS-T short-range missile and a 27 mm Mauser BK27 cannon.
In terms of sensors and electronics, it is equipped with the ES-05 AESA radar, a modern IRST (Infrared Search and Track) system and an advanced electronic warfare suite. These systems play a key role in identifying and tracking enemy aircraft and in defending against electronic threats.
What Saab Is Actually Offering
According to a report by the 'Indian Defence Research Wing', Saab officials say the Gripen E ranks among the world's most modern single-engine multirole fighters. It features artificial intelligence-based capabilities, modern avionics, advanced sensors, an electronic warfare system and network-centric war operations. The company claims that the first aircraft could be handed over to India within three years of a contract being signed.
It is important to note, however, that the Gripen E and the Su-57 are not in the same category. The Gripen E is a 4.5-generation, light and relatively lower-cost option, whereas the Su-57 is a fifth-generation stealth fighter — placing the two in distinctly different roles and brackets.
