Gripen Upgraded Engine Cheaper

It turns out that in addition to providing 20+% more thrust, the F-414 has about the same air flow requirements, meaning no major redesign of the inlets, and it is actually cheaper than the F-404 derived RM12 that it replaces.

Of note, the AESA that they are looking at installing is angled:

Which could give lower radar cross section, and possibly better azimuth performance if the antenna rotates.

What is really amazing is that they expect the proof of concept demonstrator to fly next year.

To the degree that there is a Mirage III type success of this generation of aircraft, I think that it will be the Gripen, though purchases of the previous generation (or half generation depending on how you count) F-16s may still dominate the market because of the relatively low cost.