Not sure how you can say that "its parrallel development to the Typhoon at least comparable to the same relationship as the F-16E Falcon was to the F-15E Super Eagle?" since the Gripen is currently more capable than the Typhoon for ground attack. On the other hand, there's really not much to recommend a Gripen over a F-16A/MLU, which is what the smaller NATO militaries have now. Other than fast startup time and the fact that it's newer and a bit more maintainable, the Gripen doesn't offer a lot, certainly not enough to justify replacing a F-16A/MLU fleet with them. I don't see any merit to your claim that "the US shoved sales down their throats", the F-16 program involved most of the customers in the manufacture of the aircraft. And it would make a lot more sense for these countries to upgrade to Block 60 or 70 F-16s, which probably cost less than the Gripen and offer more capability.

"I don't see any merit to your claim that "the US shoved sales down their throats", is that with reference to the Czechs though - if it is then the issue of heavy handedness from the local US ambassador makes the comment legitimate? ie situation specific.

Will the JAS 39 Gripen be good enough for operators of the F-16A to pursuade them to buy it rather than selling off their older model F-16A's for F-16E (or at minimum CCIP/Block 50+ standard) as replacements? I wouldn't imagine there are too many nations left that still buy platforms because they appear good enough on paper. Industrial offsets, cost of mods/refurbs, in-house maintenance contract awards at deeper level etc etc are more important nowadays. The Gripen will do everything a small or cash restricted nation would want. Look at Hungary and South Africa as a case in point. The Gripen is being cleared to carry more and more NATO/USA standard weapons every passing month and has avionics and systems that will undertake most jobs these prospective nations would want. Bring on the Gripens.

I still think the Swedes have stepped on some toes in the USA, but that does not make heavyhanded and clumbsy behavior any more appropiate.

Sweden to debut latest Gripen at 'Red Flag Alaska' http://www.janes.com/defence/news/jdw/jdw060619_1_n.shtml

The grippen has still an advantage vs F16, it is its RCS much below.It seems that grippen have slaughtered in BVR Finns F18 and Norwegian F16.

Hopefully Gripen upgrades and wider acceptance will be a wake up call for the US defense industry which has become too accustomed to the State Dept. being its unofficial and unpaid head of international sales. So what is the overall feeling towards other platforms being bought up by traditionally US customers? Vastly improving capability, "good enough" improvements at a much lower price (US CEO bonuses have to be factored into warplane costs) or just an alternative to boorish US sales tactics?

What wider acceptance are you anticipating?

Just measuring competitive aspects.

"It seems that grippen have slaughtered in BVR Finns F18 and Norwegian F16." Any source? I haven't heard that. The best thing in Swedish Gripen is their fighter link. It's the best inter-flight datalink in service. But that propably doesn't include to the export version.