The Saab JAS 39 Gripen (English: "griffin") is a light single-engine multirole fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace company Saab. It was designed to replace the Saab 35 Draken and 37 Viggen in the Swedish Air Force (Flygvapnet). The Gripen has a delta wing and canard configuration with relaxed stability design and fly-by-wire flight controls. It is powered by the Volvo RM12, and has a top speed of Mach 2. Later aircraft are modified for NATO interoperability standards and to undertake in-flight refuelling.

面對大陸導彈與戰機威脅，懷特認為，臺灣現有戰機即便是最新式的F-16C/D都無法承受佔有絕對數量優勢的解放軍彈道導彈和空中力量在數小時內發動的飽和攻擊，尤其是大陸導彈部隊會瞄準臺灣的空軍基地、機場跑道以及其它基礎設施進行“定點清除”，阻止臺灣傳統起降飛機起降，而具備垂直起降能力的飛機，正可為臺灣空軍扭轉不利態勢。

 

Gripen is a new generation of multi-role fighter aircraft featuring state-of-the-art technology. It is capable of performing an extensive range of air-to-air, air-to-surface and reconnaissance missions employing the most modern range of weapons. Gripen is designed to meet the demands of current and future threats, while at the same time meeting strict requirements for flight safety, reliability, training efficiency and low operating costs.

在買不到F-35B與F-16C/D的前提下，二手的“鷂”（Harrier）式（美軍編號為AV-8B）垂直起降戰鬥機最適合臺灣空軍的戰術需求，甚至比臺灣夢寐以求的美國F-16C/D戰鬥機還來得重要。

Gripen has highly developed netcentric warfare capabilities. The objective is to find and exploit information. With this definition every Gripen unit is net centric, considering the high-end sensor suite and strong focus on data links for sharing information within the Gripen Tactical unit. Gripen already has Link 16 which is used for battle space control in large NATO-led operations, as well as digital CAS and video link for cooperation with Forward Air Controllers on the ground.

 

 

臺灣如果選擇像AV-8B戰機或者瑞典Saab公司的JAS-39“鷹獅”(Girpen)之類的輕型飛機，將是“極為聰明”的投資。AV-8B戰機已被證明是對付海上兩栖攻擊的不錯平臺，美國若向臺灣銷售AV-8B戰機，好處相當明顯，雖然仍會冒招致北京憤怒的風險，但這種“進攻性稍低”的作戰平臺，“比較不會嚴重衝擊美國與中國關係”但如今台灣又是由親向台獨的民進黨執政使得問題更加復雜化.

JAS-39具備短距起降能力，“可與大陸解放軍的第4代戰機J-20進行台灣海峽制空權爭奪? 外傳台灣自2015年起就已秘密派員前往SAAB 公司參觀訪問只是受限於美國及中國,導致沒有進一步的消息,由於台灣目前的戰鬥機Mirage--2000E,法國幻象2000及美國F-16/AB都已達到屆齡2018退役的時間,台灣在2005年時向法國提出購買飆風戰鬥機,取代現有的幻象2000.向美國提出採購F-16/CD可惜諸多因素未能如願.根據西方軍事情報透露出美國頃向出租F-18/A大黃蜂戰鬥轟炸機給台灣使用,以替代F-16/AB的升級,另外強迫台灣購買退役的AV-8B戰機取代法國幻象2000E.