Sweden Built The JAS 39 Gripen To Be Free Of America -- But Its U.S. Engine Means The U.S. Can Veto Every Sale, And Just Did

Sweden's JAS 39 Gripen is marketed as a sovereign, affordable fighter, yet every Gripen relies on an American-made engine, giving Washington veto power over sales. Under U.S. export law, Washington decides where the engine—and thus the jet—can be sold. For 25 years that veto went unused, but in 2025 the United States exercised it for the first time, signaling potential constraints on Canada, Ukraine and other buyers pursuing independence. Canada is evaluating its fleet strategy, with Ottawa reportedly shifting toward a mix of roughly 30 F-35As and about 60 Gripen Es to reduce reliance on U.S. defense supply chains. Legal commitments currently cover only the first 16 F-35s, with long-lead payments hedging another 14, leaving about 72 aircraft unsigned. Gripen E uses the General Electric F414 engine, a U.S.-origin component subject to export controls. Saab pitches the Gripen as a path to Canadian sovereignty, highlighting assembly in Canada, a secure data center in Montreal and roughly 12,000 jobs ahead, with first deliveries within five years if Ottawa proceeds.