Saab President and CEO Micael Johansson stated on March 29, 2026, that delivering the first Gripen fighter jets to Canada within five years is “absolutely doable.” He argued that Canada’s existing aerospace infrastructure provides a stronger foundation than previous customers like Brazil, where an eight-year delay preceded local production.
Speaking to CTV Question Period, Johansson described a five-year timeline for the first Canadian-built Gripen as “absolutely credible.” He highlighted Canada’s “broader” industrial base, including established facilities, as the key differentiator. Johansson attended the March 25 rollout of Brazil’s first locally assembled Gripen E at Embraer’s Gaviao Peixoto plant. Brazil’s 2014 contract covers 36 Gripens, with 11 delivered from Sweden and 15 slated for local production there.
Saab positions this as a model for Canada, proposing local Gripen and GlobalEye assembly that could support over 12,000 jobs. Johansson described ongoing talks with Ottawa as “quite intensive,” covering affordability, infrastructure, and delivery, though no firm review timeline exists. He noted a pending “political decision” on operating a dual F-35 and Gripen fleet, seeing “really good potential” for a deal.
Canada committed to 88 F-35As in 2023 to replace CF-18s, but Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a review on March 14, 2025, amid U.S. trade tensions. The first 16 F-35s remain on track for late 2026 delivery, with payments underway for 14 more to secure slots. On March 24, Johansson told The Canadian Press he lacks clarity on the review’s end, as Ottawa probes industrial setup, technology transfer, and integration. Saab has also partnered with Canadian AI firm Cohere on GlobalEye applications and suggested Canadian input into Sweden’s KFS next-generation program.