# Saab Gripen Hacker Approved page: https://hackerapproved.com/p/saab-gripen/ 24 people recommended Saab Gripen in Hacker News comments, 5 had mixed feelings and 6 criticized it, November 2025 to October 2026. It was recommended in 9 of 12 months, in 16 threads. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule. **Verdict:** Recommended as a cheaper fighter that runs from short, rough airstrips and is cheap to operate. Critics say it is far weaker than the F-35 for offensive strikes. Summary written by Claude from 36 comments. ## Why people recommend it - Operates from roads and short strips (5 comments in the sample): "the Gripen the “test condition” was “Needs to be serviceable by a few conscripts working under the direction of one person" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48245510)) "Saab, which stresses operating from minimal airfields and roads, has aircraft better suited to that." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48303828)) "The Gripen has a dispersed field capability that can be supported by only 2 trained men" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46011504)) - Cheaper to buy and operate (5 comments in the sample): "Factoring in the cost of flying and the availability makes the Grippen about half the cost." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47315254)) "The planes are cheaper to operate and probably more suited for Canadas needs" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48367015)) "It is very cheap to buy and operate, and has pretty good capabilities." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46186485)) - Suited to Canada's arctic defence needs (2 comments in the sample): "designed specifically for defence against russia in an arctic environment" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48369125)) "the smaller Saab better fits the mission profile for Canada" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48298985)) - Can be built and maintained locally (2 comments in the sample): "Being able to build and maintain them yourself seems like a big plus." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47847587)) "five more Gripen factories being built across the continent" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46010927)) ## What people warn about - Vulnerable to modern anti-air missiles (4 comments in the sample): "4th generation platforms like Grippen are not survivable in a modern air defense environment" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47315681)) "Gripen will not be able to fly higher than tree lines in zones with active anti-air." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48251419)) "Gripen is an old airframe useless modern combat. It will be shot down from far away." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48390470)) - Weaker than F-35 for strikes (2 comments in the sample): "The Gripen is fine for defensive missions but it's not even remotely close to the F-35A for offensive strikes." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47070861)) "The Saab is a less capable plane, for sure, but it doesn't leave Canada" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46893915)) - Engine sourced from US, export risk (2 comments in the sample): "JAS 39 Gripen is using a US engine with export controls, so they could stop that too" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46167752)) "Yes, this is a problem and SAAB should return to using Volvo engines" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46898716)) ## Where to get it - [Visit the official site](https://www.saab.com/) ## The badge A product earns the Hacker Approved badge when at least 10 people recommend it, recommenders outnumber critics at least 2 to 1 (mixed feelings count toward neither side), it was recommended in at least 4 of the 12 months and in at least 5 different threads, and no single thread supplies more than half of the people who recommend it. Health and money products are never badged. ## Cite as Hacker Approved, "Saab Gripen", https://hackerapproved.com/p/saab-gripen/ (24 recommend, 5 mixed, 6 criticize; Hacker News comments, November 2025 to October 2026). Counts updated 2 Nov 2026, with data through October 31, 2026.