Saab renews pitch for Canadian Gripen production line amid F-35 review

Saab has presented the Canadian government with a detailed plan for setting up domestic production of its Gripen E fighter jet, according to remarks from company President and CEO Micael Johansson at a media briefing in Sweden.

The briefing, held alongside an air show marking the Swedish Air Force's centenary at Malmen Air Base, came as Canada continues to review the size and makeup of its planned 88-aircraft F-35 fleet. Johansson argued that Canada could benefit from a mixed fleet pairing the F-35 with the Gripen, saying the Swedish jet offers high availability, a smaller logistical footprint, and the ability to fly from a wider range of airfields, including improvised strips.

Neither the split-fleet proposal nor the production offer is new. Saab has been pitching a combined fleet since early 2026, and Johansson had earlier said in March that a Canadian-built Gripen could be delivered within five years. What has shifted, according to Johansson, is the level of demand behind the offer.

Separately, Saab is working to expand its overall Gripen manufacturing capacity. Johansson said in an April earnings call that output stood at roughly 15 aircraft a year, with a target of 20 to 30 annually. By a July call, he had narrowed that target to between 25 and 30 aircraft a year, saying the main bottleneck was the supply chain rather than factory space or staffing.

No decision from the Canadian government on the fleet composition or the production proposal was reported.