Swedish defense manufacturer Saab is exploring the establishment of an assembly facility for its Gripen fighter jets in Canada. According to Anders Carp, Deputy Head of Saab, in an interview with The Canadian Press, this option hinges on Ottawa’s potential decision to procure the Gripen for the Royal Canadian Air Force. Crucially, Carp highlighted that if selected, Canada could serve as a vital manufacturing hub from which these advanced multirole aircraft could be delivered to Ukraine.
This strategic proposal comes at a volatile political moment. While Canada had previously committed to purchasing 88 Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighters—and even paid for the initial batch of 16 jets—the deal was thrown into uncertainty. In March 2025, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney initiated a formal review of the F-35 procurement. This decision was largely driven by unpredictable trade and defense policy declarations coming from the administration of US President Donald Trump.
Saab’s pitch to Canada is built on economic nationalism and operational pragmatism. Recognizing the Gripen as the F-35’s only viable competitor, the Swedish aerospace giant is offering full technology transfer and localized assembly. This move promises to create thousands of highly skilled aerospace jobs in Canada while establishing a secure, transatlantic defense supply chain.
The implications for Ukraine’s long-term air defense strategy are profound. Stockholm recently greenlit the transfer of 16 Gripen C/D fighters to Kyiv, with deliveries set for 2027. Furthermore, Ukraine plans to purchase an additional 20 state-of-the-art Gripen E/F models by 2030, with ultimate ambitions of fielding a fleet of up to 150 aircraft. However, Saab’s European production lines face significant backlogs, with a manufacturing cycle of up to 36 months per aircraft.
Establishing a second production line in Canada would not only relieve domestic bottlenecks in Sweden but also provide Ukraine with a reliable, long-term pipeline of combat-ready jets. By linking Canadian defense procurement to Ukrainian security, Saab is presenting a compelling geopolitical win-win for both Ottawa and Kyiv, fostering deeper transatlantic security integration.