Overview
- Saab’s proposal ties Canadian industrial benefits to buying 72 Gripen E fighters and six GlobalEye surveillance aircraft, with final assembly and supplier work proposed in Ontario and Quebec.
- The GlobalEye portion would be built with Bombardier on the Global 6500 platform to meet Canada’s airborne early warning and control requirement.
- Leaked internal RCAF documents reported by Canadian media show the F-35 scoring about 95 percent versus roughly 33 percent for the Gripen E, with low marks for mission performance and upgradability on the Swedish jet.
- Canada has already paid for 16 F-35s even as the broader fighter acquisition is under review, raising questions about costs and the risk of operating a mixed fleet.
- RCAF leaders and outside analysts warn that selecting Gripen or splitting the buy would strain training, sustainment and NORAD/Five Eyes integration, while Saab claims its package could generate up to 12,600 Canadian jobs.