MichelR
Posted Gripen’s to the high Arctic is not a bad idea. They aren’t the maintenance queens the F-35 it i. Gripens can patrol the Northwest passage choke points several times per day As global warming makes the passage Ice free more often.
As the Gripen is capable of short field operations, short tactical landing strips would not be a problem to set up. Radar stations could be installed at these locations, and powered by our homegrown Slowpoke 3 and 4 nuclear reactors. These would provide plenty of electrical generation capacity, as well as a reasonable amount of thermal capacityTo keep maintenance equipment, troops, and anything else necessary, warm and powered. The Gripens, coupled with Long-range tanker support would be more efficient and effective for deterrent patrol duties then the F-35. That said, the Bombardier/SAAB Global Eye would be an excellent choice for arctic surveillance as well.