Saab Gripen and Eurofighter Typhoon Pitched to Canada

The idea that Canada would buy anything but a US aircraft, particularly with a significant long shot, but the fact that both companies are pitching their aircraft as an alternative to the F-35 JSF:

Representatives from the German-based Eurofighter Typhoon and Sweden's Saab Gripen appeared at committee and told members their planes can meet Canada's air force demands, and are far cheaper than the fifth-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter stealth jet the government agreed to buy in July.

Canada intends to buy 65 F-35s for $9 billion — plus maintenance costs — to replace the aging fleet of CF-18s, with delivery expected to start in 2016.

Antony Ogilvie with Saab said they could supply Canada with 65 upgraded Gripens, with 40 years of maintenance costs included, for under $6 billion.

I am unsure of the maintenance costs of the F-35, but it is safe to say that the life cycle costs for the F-35 are at least twice as much as the diminutive Swedish fighter.

If the Gripen ever reaches sales critical mass, it could be the F-5 of this era. It's half the life cycle cost and size of its competitors while offering decent performance by the standards of the day.

Truth be told, it's likely that the Eurofighter will probably be cheaper over its lifetime than the JSF as well, and while not offering the all aspect stealth (or stealthish if you listen to the critics) of the JSF, it does offer a known price and operating cost, a wider array of munitions, greater agility, supercruise, and higher ceiling, with the advantage of known operational and purchase price and a 2^nd engines for safer operations over the largely uninhabited, and rather inhospitable, areas in northern Canada.