Canada Continues Talksโ with SAAB for โGripen E Fighter Jets Amid F-35 โฃProcurement
OTTAWA – Canada is maintaining discussions with Swedishโ defense manufacturer SAAB regarding teh potentialโฃ acquisition of โคGripen E fighter โฃjets, โeven โas the country moves forward with a previously announced โขcontract for 35 โฃF-35โ Lightning II aircraft from โLockheedโ Martin.โ the ongoing dialog signals a potential move towards a mixed fleet โapproach forโ the Royal canadian Air โForce โ(RCAF).
The possibility of incorporatingโค the โขGripen E โฃinto Canada’s fighter jet โprogramme comes as debate intensifies over the cost and sufficiency ofโค the current procurement plan.โ Critics, including Quebec-based aviation analyst Andrรฉ Allard, argue that 88 fighter aircraft are inadequate to meet Canada’s NATO commitments and defend its territorial sovereignty, and that the F-35’s high purchase and maintenance costs necessitate a more affordable โขcomplement. allard points โto the fact โฃthat all G7 โnations operate mixedโฃ fleets.โค He further โคsuggests canada requiresโ a fleet โofโ over 200 aircraft, recalling a time when Canada โboasted the second-largest โขairline fleet globally with over 1,000 aircraftโ and a robustโค domestic aircraft production capacity.
The renewed interest โin the Gripen โE is โalso fueled by shifting geopolitical realities. While Canada’s need for a large air defense fleet โdiminished โfollowing the growth of intercontinental ballistic missilesโค by Russiaโข in โthe late 1950s, the โresurgence of Russian โฃmilitary activity and advancements in technology have underscored the importance of fighter jets for territorial defense. Allard believes the Gripen E represents a viable and cost-effectiveโฃ option, โstating, “It’s not a question of if, but rather when, โCanada will buy โGripen-Es โfrom SAAB.”