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Canada Seeks Details on Saab Gripen Offer as F‑35 Review Continues

Ottawa says it needs specifics on Saab’s 10,000‑job offer to judge potential benefits.

Image
JAS 39 Gripen fighter of the Swedish Air Force seen during Arctic Challenge Exercise 23 live air operations drill in Pirkkala near Tampere, Finland, on May 31, 2023. LEHTIKUVA / KALLE PARKKINEN - FINLAND OUT. NO THIRD PARTY SALES.
A Saab JAS39 Gripen from the Hungarian Air Force performs during the Airpower 19 airplane show in Zeltweg, Styria, Austria, on Sept. 6, 2019. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)
Canada F-35. Image Credit: Ideogram.

Overview

  • Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said the F‑35 deal has not delivered sufficient Canadian industrial benefits and that talks continue with both Saab and Lockheed Martin.
  • Saab is pitching local Gripen production worth 10,000 jobs and has discussed partnering with Bombardier, with a separate GlobalEye build in Canada floated as creating about 3,000 jobs.
  • The Department of National Defence’s review of the fighter program has been delivered to the Prime Minister’s Office, and the government has not announced any change to the first 16 F‑35s due 2026–2030.
  • Lockheed Martin estimates up to $15.5 billion in Canadian industrial value from an 88‑jet program and warns benefits would decline if Canada buys fewer aircraft, as suppliers eye work including F‑35 maintenance in Mirabel.
  • A group of former senior RCAF officers urged Ottawa to keep a full F‑35 fleet, warning a mixed fleet with Gripens would add cost and strain pilot and maintenance resources.