Swedish defense company Saab is exploring the possibility of setting up Gripen fighter jets assembly in Canada to meet the increased demand from Ukraine promptly.
According to Saab’s CEO Micael Johansson, Kyiv’s interest in procuring over 100 Gripen fighter jets would lead to a doubling of the company’s production requirements.
Reports from the Financial Times and Reuters indicated that Johansson mentioned the company is looking into expanding production capacity, potentially in Canada or other European locations.
During the Canadian Aerospace Summit in Ottawa, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly expressed optimism, calling it “good news” and confirming her discussion with Johansson earlier that day.
Joly emphasized the importance of Canada as a market for the GlobalEye surveillance aircraft, which is a collaborative effort between Saab and Bombardier.
Simon Carroll, president of Saab Canada, highlighted the significance of the Canadian aerospace industry as a pivotal market to meet the rising global demand.
While specifics regarding potential partners or locations for the project remain undisclosed, Carroll emphasized Saab’s commitment to enhancing relationships with Canadian companies for program and product support.
The assembly of Gripen planes currently takes place in Mississauga, Ont., with final production stages conducted in Sweden for radar and sensor installation.
Recent developments saw Sweden and Ukraine sign a preliminary agreement for the export of up to 150 Gripens to Ukraine, aiming to build a mixed fighter fleet that includes F-16s, Gripens, and French Rafales.
On the Canadian front, the government is still deliberating on the acquisition of 88 F-35 fighter jets, with Prime Minister Mark Carney ordering a review following global trade concerns under the Trump administration.
Industry Minister Joly mentioned a potential strategy of maintaining a mixed fighter fleet, possibly incorporating both F-35s and Gripens, to safeguard Canadian interests and generate economic benefits.
Discussions between Canadian officials and Saab representatives, including visits to Sweden and engagements with US authorities, underscore the complexity and importance of the fighter jet procurement decision for Canada’s defense and economy.