Don’t think so. I figure the Gripen is about as good as the Super Hornet, and waaaaay behind the F-35. Dunno ‘bout the relative costs.
‘Course, the Indians don’t need F-35s (and it will be a few years before they’re available). They need something that can beat the early model F-16s the Pakis fly and Chinese Sukhois, just in case.
If I were the Indians, though, I’d be lookin’ into UCAV technology instead of manned fighters. Get a jump on all the folks clinging to manned fighter technology.
“They need something that can beat the early model F-16s the Pakis fly and Chinese Sukhois, just in case.”
India also needs to beat the newer models of Paki F-16s plus the new generations of Chinese Sukhois and Jian-10s and Jian-12s that would be comming in larger numbers. Neither F-18s nor Gripens are capable of beating them. Both are short on range, and would barely be able to hold their own. However F-35s may have a big time edge over the combined strength of Paki and Chinese airforce.