Gripen E vs F-16 Block 70: Who is the Most Powerful Fighter Jet?

The JAS-39 Gripen E and the F-16 Block 70 are quite similar in many ways. They are fighters of the same generation, both single-engine and competing for the same markets, such as the current competition from the Philippine Air Force. It is normal that, given these similarities, the question arises: who is the best fighter? That's what we're going to answer today.
#gripen
#f16
#militaryaviation

[@xmadxtiox]

I'm an American who loves the F-16V Block 70. But, I have to admit, The Gripen is a kick-ass fighter!!

[@nebulaalts-z3g]

Gripen E was produced as an upgrade and not as an rush. It had very good engineers which knew exactly what their goal and point was. Hear me out I'm not saying the F-16 didn't have good engineers just saying it was very rushed as we see in other versions of the F jet.

[@MilitaryMight-xl1um]

Yes, the F-16 Block 70 was developed as a faster and cheaper upgrade of legacy platforms, unlike the F-16 Block 60 Desert Falcon, which is the result of a deeper and more expensive modernization.

[@juancastrarias9437]

The few personnel needed to keep the function of Gripen E plus the short / improvised bases is a very powerful capability. It increases massively the missions the planes will perfom when neeeded in a conflict

[@benktlofgren4710]

Yep if you do not have the anti-air umbrella of the USA or NATO it is a no-brainer, and even if you have defense treaties you need something that can bite back until help arrives.

[@NATObait]

Gripen E is a major upgrade from the Legacy Gripen A,B,C,D versions as the major feature are increased weight from 6800k to 8000k . It has a new engine, the undercarriage has been repositioned, the internal fuel capacity is increased from 3000L to 4360L, 2 extra hard points, even the aelerons increase in area and many other changes are made not just modernization.

[@abmong]

Problem with the F16 is politics rather than function. Thailand is an interesting case study. Thailand chose the Gripen E/F over the F16V mainly due to the difference in T&C. With the F16, the customer country has to ask US permission to use the jets, plus the US offers limited upgrades With the Gripen, the customer doesn't need permission from Sweden to operate, plus Sweden allows Saab to work with the customer to develop new upgrades.

[@briancarter8922]

Both are excellent Fighters. What it comes down to is the infrastructure added and the trust of its government. As one above the 49th parallel I trust Sweden more than the US at this moment in time.

[@rainnelmaclang4803]

F-16's glory days are fast fading. In terms of technology and innovation, it's time is up. New generation fighters like JAS-39 will take over.

[@markusoswe]

In the Swedish doctrine, a Gripen never flies alone. Sensor fusion allows multiple Gripens to share target tracking data. One Gripen can carry out the mission to give a meteor optimum launch energy and quickly turn away from engaging fighters. Throw a Globaleye into the mix.......

[@nhermogenes]

I agree. This comparison is actually happening in real life. The Philippine airforce is currently evaluating both the Gripen and the Viper Block 70. It was reported that they were leaning towards the Gripen but $500M military donation to the Philippines from the US government last week will most certainly change this bias. The Philippines are acquiring either of these fighters to defend against China. This theoretical battlefield will occur mostly in open water...far away from any terrain. This makes radar, combat range, electronic counter measure, flying/landing from unprepared airfields the most significant factors. All of which the Gripen has advantage over the F16.

[@pablopeter3564]

EXCELLENT video. Don´t forget to mention the cost of the flight hour , the F.16 is more expensive.

[@markmalana7877]

I go for the gripen E.

[@benktlofgren4710]

They are designed for different types of warfare, The F-16 needs a bigger logistic chain or an alliance like NATO or big countries like the USA to keep the bases safe. If your bases go kaboom F-16 is worthless. That is why Gripen is designed to work from roads with its dispersed doctrine with fast maintenance and turnaround times. Sweden was military unaligned when the Gripen was designed and Sweden had to rely on it self for the defence.

[@donaldaxel]

Interesting comparison. I can only say that it seems to be a better deal to buy Gripen-E because of tech transfer, but to me there is one more advantage or difference which needs explaining: The operational cost in a war-theatre; here it seems obvious that the Gripens give more bang for the buck, especially after the many modern additions to the version-E. In a future development it would be the same political bindings, is my guess, as Gripen now uses GE engines with trade restrictions.

[@MilitaryMight-xl1um]

Yes, I would like to have included the operational cost, but as the Gripen E is still in the introduction phase, there is no precise data on the cost per flight hour, for example. In any case, it is quite reasonable to think that the Gripen E is operationally cheaper, since its logistics, as we have seen, are simpler, and it even requires much less personnel.

[@TheYemcl]

​@MilitaryMight-xl1um Does it require fewer personnel to maintain because of differences in maintainer training and SOPs, or because it is a mechanically simpler aircraft?

[@donaldaxel]

@@TheYemcl :: It is because the gear needed for maintenance procedures are better designed, - just my 10 cents.

[@Wierdwires]

The on-going deal with Thailand worth between $1.6-$1.75B Depends on exchanges rate. This deal is for 12 aircraft … this make unit cost around $138M. But coming with gripen E… Saab thrown in couple of meteor missiles (I heard 2 or4) upgrades 2 of Saab 340 erieye from AEW to AEWC with new radar /ACCM

[@Wierdwires]

And Tactical data link license /right of self development… and couple “offset” economical projects. While 12 F16 offered from LM is $2.5-2.65B With link16 license and installation of existing 20+ F16 in RTAF with link 16. RTAF choose Gripen

[@girodyaten520]

Gripen is the Philippines 🇵🇭 top contender for the Multirole fighter aircraft project

[@benktlofgren4710]

It is the best one for ya, both economically and capability-wise. Sure you have treaties and friends that will come to your aid, but you want something that can do something until that help arrives.

[@petter5721]

A Well composed video 👍🏻

[@timothymachen687]

The gripen is a better value in totality.

[@djperryboy]

There is so much more to Gripen E that is not mentioned here such as its moving abilities, communication skills and digital updating abilities

[@Nubbe999]

They should not be compared. They are not meant for the exact same jobs and are good at different things. Also, they would probably never fight each other but complement each other in the future.

[@qwertyuio266]

The Gripen E, is not an upgrade its a whole new aircraft that looks similar to its predecessor. So if you want to compare the Block 70, then compare it to the Gripen C/D MS20.

[@donquixote1502]

Since 2006 Gripen has never lost to a F-16...not to an F-18 or F-15 either. Don't attack me as a lier, Google it...

[@MilitaryMight-xl1um]

I know you're not a liar, because we already made a video exactly about this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmrFnIN8qJ11fNU

[@relarela4710]

Not true polish f-16 kicked the gripens ass

[@TITLE11005]

It is good in different situations

[@songhengmong769]

I Love F16❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@LeuanBR]

F-16 Carrega até 7.700 t de Misses ?

[@douglassshephard3732]

THE GRIPEN IS A LOT BETTER JET IT WAS MADE TO FIGHT RUSSIA JET. LOOK FOR YOURSELF AND YOU WILL SEE JUST WHAT I AM SAYING.

[@LeuanBR]

Gripen E 7.200 T Misses and bombs

[@mikaeljohansson7848]

You didn´t mention how much it cost to fly per hor with each plane. In many cases numbers make the winner. But look at Russia and Ucraine or when US went into vietnam. Those looked like an obvious win´s but didn´t play out that way

[@MilitaryMight-xl1um]

It is difficult to talk about the cost per flight hour fairly, as there are different ways of measuring the cost that generate different results. Sometimes the same plane may have a different flight hour cost operating across different nations. Furthermore, the Gripen E is still coming into operation, so there is no concrete data on its cost per flight hour, only estimates. For these reasons we left this topic out of the comparison.

[@mikaeljohansson7848]

@@MilitaryMight-xl1um just wondered because many of the other channels does it

[@MilitaryMight-xl1um]

Many channels treat these issues in a simplistic way. They don't check sources, they ignore methodologies and end up providing incorrect information.

[@mikaeljohansson7848]

@@MilitaryMight-xl1um Might be so in some cases. But most have almost the same numbers. You have 622 subs and many of them have sevrel hundred thousands of subs. I don´t mean that to offend you in any way. But for a larger channel have more eyes on them and there for it is more important to be correct or the will lose subs and then their income