Operational Criteria Favored Lightning II By Wide Margin

Canada’s Future Fighter Capability Project conducted an evaluation in 2021 of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II versus the Saab Gripen E, and it wasn’t close: overall, the F-35 scored 57.1 out of 60 (95%) and the Gripen E achieved 19.8 points (33%). Both aircraft met Canada’s mandatory requirements but diverged significantly when scores for operational criteria were included.

The aircraft were evaluated in five operational categories: mission performance, upgradability, sustainment, technical criteria, and capability delivery. The categories were weighted, respectively, at 52%, 28%, 11%, 8%, and 2%.

In the mission performance and upgradability categories the F-35 outscored the Gripen E by an average 73%. The other categories were not as divergent but the Lightning II scores were better by an average of 16%. The closest category was in sustainability with scores of 85% and 81% for the F-35 and Gripen E, respectively.

The overall scores of the aircraft were an almost top-of-scale 57.113 points for the F-35 and 19.762 points for the Gripen E, less than a third of the attainable total.

The data were released during a time when Ottawa is reviewing its decision to purchase the F-35 at the direction of Prime Minister mark Carney. The reasons are due to rising tensions with the U.S. and not based on any shortfall in capabilities or other scorable factors.

Lt. Gen Yvan Blondin, former Royal Canadian Air Force commander reacted to the debate by saying, “If we send our sons and daughters into combat, it will be in these aircraft. If you put them in an F-35 against Chinese or Russian jets in the Arctic, the aircraft scores 95%. If you put them in a Gripen, it’s 33%. That should be the first factor we consider when deciding which fighters to buy.”

Saab is emphasizing its focus on the potential for Canada to participate in the production of the Gripen E. That consideration has taken a more prominent place in Ottawa’s re-examination of its procurement strategy.

However, these data show a decisive, if not convincing, performance gap, and will be a challenge for those advocating for an all-Gripen or mixed fleet.

The Department of National Defence is reported to have completed its internal reassessment ofr the F-35 program but it has not yet been made public.

FMI:  www.canada.ca/