Swedish defense manufacturer Saab has pledged to create 12,600 jobs in Canada if it is awarded a contract to supply 72 Gripen fighter jets and six GlobalEye surveillance aircraft, as part of the industrial plan it submitted to the Canadian government. According to information obtained by CBC News, defense and economic experts in Ottawa continue to review Saab’s proposals in terms of military requirements and local economic benefits.
Bombardier Partnership and Airborne Early Warning Project
Saab’s strategy for Canada includes establishing production facilities in Ontario and Quebec and building a broad supplier network across the country. Under this plan, GlobalEye aircraft would be produced by integrating advanced surveillance systems and radars onto Global 6500 business jet platforms manufactured by Canadian-based company Bombardier. This project, defined in Canada as an “airborne early warning and control” (AEWAC) system, aims both to meet domestic needs and to enable exports to potential foreign markets such as France and Germany. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly stated that the government is closely interested not only in maintaining security but also in projects that create jobs.
F-35 Orders and Operational Challenges
Saab’s proposal for 72 Gripen aircraft has brought renewed attention to Canada’s plan to purchase 88 F-35 fighter jets, ordered in 2022 at a cost exceeding $27 billion. Although the government is reportedly reviewing the number of F-35s on order, no definitive decision to reduce the purchase has yet been made. Lockheed Martin, for its part, is promising $15 billion in business activity in Canada if the current order is maintained. Some military analysts question whether the Canadian Armed Forces have the capacity to integrate two different fighter aircraft platforms simultaneously and whether Swedish-made systems could operate in full compatibility with NORAD infrastructure.
A recent public opinion survey conducted by Ekos revealed Canadian attitudes toward aircraft choices. While 43% of respondents supported replacing the aging CF-18 fleet solely with Gripens, 29% said they preferred a mixed fleet consisting of both F-35s and Gripens. The option of a single fleet made up exclusively of F-35s received the lowest level of support at 13%. The survey results also showed differences among supporters of political parties, with the Gripen option proving more popular among voters of the New Democratic Party and the Liberal Party.
Source: C4Defence- CBS News
