Sarah Mitchell remembers the day her father came home from his shift at the Bombardier plant in Montreal, his face lit up with excitement. “We’re building jets again,” he told her, describing how the factory floor buzzed with energy whenever a major aerospace contract landed in Canada. That was fifteen years ago, when Canadian workers still assembled significant portions of military aircraft on home soil.
Today, Sarah works as an aerospace engineer in Toronto, watching most of Canada’s defense manufacturing slip away to foreign companies. But a surprising new offer from Sweden’s Saab could change everything – and put thousands of Canadians back to work building some of the world’s most advanced fighter jets.
The Swedish aerospace giant has just proposed something that could reshape Canada’s military aviation future: assembling 72 Gripen fighters Canada desperately needs, plus six sophisticated GlobalEye radar aircraft, right here on Canadian soil.
Why Canada’s Fighter Jet Plans Just Got Complicated
Back in 2022, Canada seemed to have settled its decades-long fighter jet saga by choosing the American F-35 Lightning II. The government committed to buying 88 of these stealth fighters to replace the aging CF-18 Hornets that have been protecting Canadian skies since the 1980s.
But then politics got messy. Diplomatic tensions with Washington escalated throughout 2024 and 2025, covering everything from trade disputes to disagreements over Arctic sovereignty. By March 2025, the Canadian government shocked everyone by announcing it would reconsider the F-35 purchase.
“The F-35 decision wasn’t just about military capability – it was about industrial benefits and jobs for Canadians,” explains defense analyst James Crawford. “When that relationship with the U.S. became strained, suddenly other options started looking more attractive.”
Enter Saab with an offer that’s hard to ignore. The Swedish company isn’t just proposing to sell Canada aircraft – they’re promising to build them here, creating what could be thousands of high-skilled manufacturing jobs across the country.
What Saab’s Canadian Assembly Offer Really Means
Saab’s proposal goes far beyond a simple aircraft purchase. The company is offering to establish a complete production line in Canada, potentially transforming the country’s defense industrial base.
| Aircraft Type | Quantity | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Gripen E/F Fighters | 72 | Multi-role combat, advanced radar, NATO compatible |
| GlobalEye Radar Aircraft | 6 | Airborne early warning, maritime surveillance |
The Gripen fighters Canada would receive represent the latest evolution of Sweden’s highly successful fighter program. These aren’t the older Gripen models that some critics dismissed in previous competitions – the E/F variants pack serious technological punch.
Key advantages of the Gripen package include:
- Lower operational costs compared to the F-35
- Proven reliability in harsh Nordic conditions similar to Canada’s
- Complete technology transfer to Canadian industry
- Estimated 8,000-12,000 direct and indirect jobs created
- Full industrial participation guarantees
“What Saab is offering isn’t just aircraft – it’s a complete aerospace ecosystem,” notes aviation expert Dr. Lisa Chen. “They’re talking about making Canada a regional hub for Gripen production and maintenance.”
The GlobalEye aircraft add another dimension to the proposal. These sophisticated radar planes would give Canada unprecedented surveillance capabilities over its vast Arctic territories and maritime approaches.
Real Jobs Versus Military Preferences
Here’s where things get really interesting – and complicated. While politicians love the job creation potential of Saab’s offer, Canada’s military has different priorities.
The Royal Canadian Air Force has been crystal clear about what it wants: all 88 F-35s, exactly as originally planned. Internal military assessments reportedly gave the F-35 overwhelming advantages in combat capability, scoring 95% compared to just 33% for the Gripen in key performance categories.
“Our pilots have been training on F-35 systems, our maintenance crews are being certified, and our operational doctrine is built around stealth capabilities,” explains retired Air Force Colonel Michael Davidson. “Switching horses midstream creates massive disruption.”
But economic realities are hard to ignore. The Saab proposal could create more Canadian jobs than the F-35 program ever promised. While Lockheed Martin offers industrial participation through its global supply chain, most F-35 production remains concentrated in the United States.
Canadian aerospace workers see the Saab offer as potentially transformative. Union representatives estimate the Gripen assembly line could sustain employment for decades, not just during the initial production run.
“This could be our chance to rebuild Canadian aerospace manufacturing,” says Maria Santos, whose welding business contracts with defense companies. “We’ve been losing these capabilities for years – here’s an opportunity to bring them back.”
The timing couldn’t be more politically charged. With federal elections approaching and growing public concern about Canadian sovereignty, the promise of domestic defense production resonates with voters across party lines.
Regional economic impacts could be substantial. While Saab hasn’t announced specific assembly locations, Quebec, Ontario, and Western Canada are all positioning themselves to attract the potential production facilities.
“Every major aerospace region in Canada is basically rolling out the red carpet,” observes industry consultant Robert Kim. “The economic multiplier effects of this kind of manufacturing are enormous.”
The broader implications extend beyond jobs and military capability. Canada’s defense industrial strategy has long struggled with dependence on foreign suppliers and limited domestic production capacity. The Gripen offer represents a chance to rebuild that capacity with a trusted ally.
Sweden’s neutral but Western-aligned foreign policy also appeals to Canadian policymakers seeking alternatives to deeper military integration with an increasingly unpredictable United States.
Whatever Canada decides, the choice will echo for decades. The country stands at a crossroads between proven American military technology and a Swedish industrial partnership that promises economic sovereignty alongside aerial defense.
FAQs
How many Gripen fighters would Canada get under Saab’s proposal?
Saab is offering to assemble 72 Gripen E/F fighters in Canada, along with 6 GlobalEye radar aircraft.
Would these aircraft be built entirely in Canada?
Saab proposes final assembly in Canada with significant technology transfer, though some components would still come from Sweden and other suppliers.
How does the Gripen compare to the F-35 Canada originally chose?
The F-35 offers superior stealth capabilities, while the Gripen provides lower operating costs and easier maintenance in Canada’s harsh conditions.
How many jobs could the Gripen assembly create?
Estimates suggest 8,000 to 12,000 direct and indirect jobs across Canada’s aerospace sector.
When would Canada need to decide between the F-35 and Gripen?
No official timeline has been announced, but the decision likely needs to happen within the next 12-18 months to avoid further delays.
What happens to the F-35s Canada already ordered?
Canada has firm orders for 16 F-35s that would likely proceed regardless, though the remaining 72 aircraft could potentially be replaced by Gripens.
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