US EditionSaab CEO says plan to build Gripen jets in Canada depends on Ottawa making an order
Saab says a Canadian Gripen fighter jet production hub could create 10,000 jobs but requires a government order due to technology transfer and operational integration needs.
- Nov. 21, 2025: Saab CEO Micael Johansson said his plan to build Gripen aircraft in Canada depends on Ottawa buying them, arguing it `doesn't really make sense` without an end-user.
- Against that backdrop, Ottawa is reviewing the contract to buy up to 88 F-35 fighters, with Industry Minister Mélanie Joly saying Canada didn’t get enough industrial benefits and considering a mixed fleet.
- Saab's proposal would create about 10,000 jobs through a Canadian production hub that would take three to five years to build, while Saab maintains production lines in Sweden and Brazil and explores sites like Portugal.
- Defence Minister David McGuinty said there is no timeline for the review and officials will take the time needed at the Halifax International Security Forum, while U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra called the F-35 a `phenomenal success`.
- The procurement's 15-year history and 16-aircraft commitment mean Saab's Canadian production offer, tied to industrial and NORAD concerns, lost to Lockheed Martin in the 2023 competition.
25 Articles
25 Articles
Saab's CEO is clear: his company's decision to establish itself in Canada will depend on Ottawa's decision to buy its Gripen aircraft or not.
Saab CEO says plan to build Gripen jets in Canada depends on Ottawa making an order
OTTAWA — Saab's CEO is making it clear that his company's decision on whether to set up shop in Canada will depend on whether Ottawa decides to buy its Gripen aircraft.
Saab CEO Says Plan to Build Gripen Jets in Canada Depends on Ottawa Making an Order
Saab’s CEO is making it clear that his company’s decision on whether to set up shop in Canada will depend on whether Ottawa decides to buy its Gripen aircraft. “To transfer technology and build a hub in a country that would not use the aircraft themselves and have the connection with the end user doesn’t really make sense,” Micael Johansson told The Canadian Press. He said the jets are designed to be upgraded continuously as the technology evolv…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 82% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
