Well guys, i totally disagree with you.
First of all, even packed with Meteor plus Iris-T missiles and cutting edge AESA radar, 6:1 ratio is still exaggerated when you compare the Gripen vs Su-35, furthermore, i question these kinds of simulation since nobody knows what are the real numbers of such important factor as the new Su-35 true RCS, etc.
But what surprises me the most is that people continues to underestimate the F-35´s true potential.
Viggen, do you truly believe that a NG Gripen can outclass a 5th gen stealth fighter in BVR combat?
I think your being very naive.
Even with a Top notch radar it would be extremely hard to the Gripen, or any other 4th gen fighter, to pick up a stealth fighter on the radar, and even more to successfully tracking it and shoot.
By the time they see the F-35 or F-22 on their radar is already too late, they probably have been shoot at already.
Its a mater of logic, imagine a scenario were they are using the exact same radar, even in such situation the fact is the Gripen, no matter how Small his RCS is, will be picked up first.
Honestly, i don´t change my position, after the F-22 and the F-35, the only fighter aircraft that can come close to them are the Su-35 and the Eurofighter.
To me, those 4 aircraft stand out from the rest, pick up a Block 60 F-16 put some new engines on it, a new radar and use some new materials to reduce some weight and you get a plane which outclasses the Gripen.
Even the Rafale earns more respect from me than the Gripen.
The Gripen is only a good choice for a country low on budget and with few runways.
If you have the money and you have the airfields and you got the chance to get a 5th gen fighter, than get it, trading it for a 4th gen fighter just because it is cheap and the company offers 48 for free is stupid and would turn out to be a really bad decision in a long term.
Something similar is happening in Australia, the have the money to get the F-22 and they certainly have the "political status" to get the F-22 and yet they want to get the F-35.
Why do you get the Mercedes when you have the chance to get the Ferrari?
Thats ridiculous.
In the end the Norwegian were smart enough to not commit such mistake, and i praise them for that.
Its not a matter of politics, its a matter of getting the best when you have a chance to.