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The Super Hornet & the Gripen cannot be compared because the latter is roughly half the size of the former!!>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

If India seeks to have a decentralized deployment , as is customary in Sweden, the remotely deployable Gripen is a plus in its smallness. Canada is faced with similar strategy choices in defence of its North in the face of Russian expansionism. But Canada is beset by the political need to keep its military hardware cenbtralized in the SOuthern marches of Canada, a strategic blunder, that India should not repeat on the frontiers of Chinese expansionism, in Buthan, Sikkim and Nepal, originating in Tibet.

The Gripen STOL characteristics would make them forward deployable in the short mountain passes and mountain shelves in ways no other aircraft could imitate.

The f-18 does need an air arm of refuling support. I do not know the state of Indians ability there, but suspect it is weak , as is the AWACs function necessary for maximum effectiveness of the F-18.

My overall favorite is the Gripen, which has the potential to be a modern "Spitfire" should it come to the necessity of air superiority over the Himalayas or the Kyber Pass.

Gripen does not have the range to cover or penetrate deep into Chinese airspace. Thats the biggest draw back. Its weapon load is too small. Hardly enough to defend against waves of Chinese fighters that will come in large numbers. It makes little sense for IAF to buy the Gripens which is in the same category as the LCA and is very similar in size, payload and characteristics.

F-35 may also have STOL capability, and would greatly fit into Indian requirement.

India is buying aerial refuellers & will recieve the first of around 4 PHALCON AEW/C systems from Israel by the end of this year-While it’s mission systems are the best at the moment,the SuperHornet does’nt fit in any particular frame.As one US airforce official hawking the F-16 put it-”If India buys the Super Hornet-what is it replacing”???.

I don’t know how effective decentralised deployment is in India given that the IAF has not given it any deep thought.The problem is that unless you have a proper early warning capability,such deployments would be useless.Scores of Chinese aircraft would be over Sikhim or Bhutan in minutes & any aircraft would be better off deploying from airbases in Kashmir or Assam.