For much of its service life, the JAS 39 Gripen has lived in the shadow of flashier fighter jets. Critics have long portrayed Sweden’s multirole aircraft as underpowered compared with American fifth-generation fighters or less capable than larger European rivals. In defense circles, it was often described as a “budget jet” — practical, yes, but hardly exceptional.

That perception has begun to change.

During a series of NATO-led air combat exercises over the past decade, Gripen aircraft flown by Swedish and allied pilots have repeatedly delivered results that surprised their opponents. These were not real-world dogfights, but highly realistic training scenarios designed to stress pilots, aircraft, and tactics under conditions meant to resemble modern aerial warfare. According to pilots and analysts familiar with the exercises, the outcomes forced many participants to reassess what the Gripen is — and what it is not.

The Gripen’s success did not come from raw power. It lacks the size, thrust, and stealth profile of jets like the F-35 or F-22. Instead, its strength lies in a design philosophy that prioritizes agility, situational awareness, and cost efficiency. Built to operate from short, improvised runways and maintained by small ground crews, the aircraft reflects Sweden’s Cold War doctrine of dispersal and survivability.

In close-range combat simulations, pilots have praised the Gripen’s handling characteristics. The aircraft’s delta wing and canard configuration allow for tight turns and rapid changes in direction, attributes that can be decisive in visual-range engagements. Combined with a modern avionics suite and helmet-mounted display systems, Gripen pilots are often able to track and engage adversaries quickly, even against technically superior platforms.

“It’s not about overpowering the enemy,” said one European fighter pilot who has flown against the Gripen in multinational exercises and spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. “It’s about being in the right place at the right time and making the first effective move.”

Another factor is tactics. Gripen squadrons have developed operational approaches that emphasize teamwork, data sharing, and disciplined use of sensors. Rather than relying on individual aircraft to dominate a fight, pilots operate as part of a tightly coordinated network, exploiting gaps in opponents’ assumptions. In exercises, this has occasionally led to unexpected outcomes, including simulated “kills” against aircraft that were presumed to hold an advantage.

Defense analysts caution against overstating such results. Training exercises are designed to test specific scenarios, often with artificial constraints. Rules of engagement, simulated weapons, and predetermined objectives all shape outcomes. A strong performance in an exercise does not automatically translate into superiority in real combat, particularly against advanced air defense systems or in contested environments dominated by long-range sensors.

Still, the Gripen’s record has attracted attention. Countries with limited defense budgets but significant security concerns — including several in Eastern Europe and Latin America — have taken note. For them, the aircraft’s relatively low operating cost, combined with its demonstrated effectiveness in training, makes it an appealing alternative to more expensive fighters.

Sweden’s recent move toward NATO membership has further elevated the Gripen’s profile. As interoperability with allied forces becomes more critical, the jet’s ability to integrate with NATO systems and operate alongside larger air forces is under closer scrutiny. Saab, the aircraft’s manufacturer, has highlighted these exercises as evidence that smaller air forces can still field credible, modern capabilities.

The shift in perception has been subtle but meaningful. Where the Gripen was once dismissed as a compromise, it is now more often described as a specialist — an aircraft optimized for certain missions and environments rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.

In the end, the lessons from NATO exercises are less about declaring a winner and more about challenging assumptions. Air combat is no longer defined solely by speed or size. As the Gripen has demonstrated, design choices, pilot training, and tactical creativity can upend expectations — even in a sky crowded with more powerful machines.