All news about Ukraine's potential acquisition of JAS 39 Gripen E aircraft examines the situation from every angle, including delivery timelines, localization, and armament. An important factor in this story is the engine, made in the U.S. by a supplier whose reputation has recently been tarnished.
This is the F414 engine from General Electric Aerospace, which was developed based on the F404 engine. The latter is installed on many aircraft, including the Indian Tejas, which is a notable case because fighter jet production has fallen seriously behind schedule due to years of engine supply delays.
Read more: Saab Eyes Gripen Production in Ukraine: Where Could It Be Built, and How Long Would It Take?
This suggests that a similar situation could occur with a potential Gripen E contract for Ukraine. Given the size of the order, it will be necessary to increase production, and therefore the demand for components, which could cause additional delays.
Currently, the F414 is used in the production of F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter jets, which is currently scheduled to end in 2027. This will reduce the strain, allowing more opportunities for other customers.
The Americans did not complain about previous deliveries for the project from General Electric. However, domestic orders are always prioritized, and this led to delays for Kuwait.
On the other hand, this engine is used in the South Korean KAI KF21 Boramae in its current 4+ generation variant, which is soon to go into serial production. A variant with its own domestic equivalent is expected to be developed, but this remains a plan for the future.
In India, the F414 engine is slated for the Tejas Mk2, which is still in development and yet to take flight, along with other next-generation fighters such as the fifth-generation AMCA. In addition, extensive localization is planned. It won't cover some critical technologies, but it should help relieve overall supply chains.
As for local production, Sweden's Volvo is involved in the manufacture of these engines and is a long-standing partner of General Electric. This offers additional assistance in fulfilling the order, even though the dependence remains.
It should be mentioned that the 2020 quarantine caused numerous delays, creating a backlog of untimely contracts across many companies. At the same time, this is being significantly addressed, so such large-scale force majeure events should not occur again.
Another important aspect regarding engines is their origin, which is why Gripen is subject to ITAR. These international arms trade rules are designed to stop American technology from reaching unfriendly countries.
At present, it appears that the U.S. will likely approve exports to Ukraine, though some restrictions will apply to future deliveries and usage. This could provide a strategic advantage in future political discussions.
Naturally, this applies to all U.S. weapons, F-16 included, and it is important to remember. Anyway, the Gripen relies heavily on imported components from multiple countries.
Currently, the Swedes have no alternative to the F414, although rumors about potential alternatives continue to circulate. It is likely that the development of a new engine will begin for the sixth-generation fighter project.
Therefore, the engine has been and remains one of the most important parts of an aircraft, which can seriously slow down any program, such as the Turkish KAAN. It is important to keep in mind the influence of this component on any potential contract with Ukraine. At the same time, neither Sweden nor Brazil has complained about the pace of F414 deliveries so far. This gives some hope that there will be no problems with the Ukrainian Gripen jets.
Read more: How Many Used JAS 39 Gripen C/D Fighters Could Ukraine Receive if Deliveries Start in 2026?
