RAAF overlooks Saab Gripen for more expensive, controversial Joint Srike Fighter

This is the low-cost, high performance fighter jet that Australia overlooked when the RAAF spent more than $6 billion to fill a capability gap between its retiring F-111 and Hornet fleets and the controversial stealth F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

The Saab Gripen is a single engine, two-crew, multi-role fighter made in Sweden and according to the builder it costs about $US7000 an hour to run compared to $US11,000 for the Boeing Super Hornet operated by the Royal Australian Air Force and $21,000 an hour for the next generation JSF.

The plane costs almost the same as a Super Hornet to buy, but Saab claims the Gripen requires just 2.5 hours of maintenance for every hour of flying.

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