Saab has signed a contract with the Colombian Government for the purchase of 17 Gripen E and F fighters, the UK Defence Journal understands.
The order, worth 3.1 billion euros, covers deliveries from 2026 through 2032 according to the company.
The package consists of 15 single seat Gripen E and two twin seat Gripen F aircraft, along with weapons, equipment, training and support services. Saab said the deal also includes two offset agreements that set the framework for industrial and social programmes in Colombia. These are expected to involve cooperation in aeronautics, cyber security, health technologies, sustainable energy and water purification.
Saab described the signing as the start of a wider strategic partnership with Colombia. Micael Johansson, the company’s President and CEO, said “I am honored that Colombia has chosen Gripen E/F to enhance its air defence capabilities and delighted to welcome Colombia into the Gripen family.” He added that the agreement “will strengthen Colombia’s defence and security, benefit its people, and boost the nation’s innovation power.”
The contract brings Colombia into the group of operators of the latest generation Gripen and marks the country’s largest modern combat aircraft acquisition to date.
Business for Leonardo UK who I think, supply the radar, spiritual reincarnation of Ferranti Blue Vixen.
Between 30 & 37% of each Gripen E is made in the UK.
A lot of GR9 related bits in a GRIPEN!
That’s a fair bit more than I thought. Good stuff. I am happy with having the Japanese and Italians as partners on gcap, but it would have even stronger if the Swedes, through Saab, had joined back in the day…
Yep . I’d also be happy to have Sweden onboard for Tempest.
Either way, i’m the UK will still hopefully benefit.
Either way, i’m the UK will still hopefully benefit.
3rd time lucky ?
Shame that the GE engines will still have ITAR constraints. Let’s hope Colombia are aware of that. An EuroJet EJ230 evolution to Grippen G would have been better for Colombia, Canada and Ukraine too. To SAABs advantage too.
Hopefully the offset labour (licence manufacturing) will not delay Grippen supply to Ukraine who urgently need something more integrated than old F16s..
Always thought they’d make a good force mix with the Typhoon for the RAF. A bit like Jaguar and Tornado. I suppose that would require foresight and investment. Warton final assembly would have been handy too.
Did the US approve this sale? because Gripen E does not fly without F414 engines. US/Columbia relations are pretty tense currently, not to mention the US was hoping to sell F16 in Columbia.
It does sound a bit odd doesn’t it.
yes US is territorial with anything to do with South America since Monroe Doctrine and esp with Trump who doesn’t like to miss out on juicy sales. perhaps this one is not juicy enough?
Perhaps destruction of fishing vessels in international waters besides South America doesn’t create a US friendly sales environment.
been a lot of recent reports that Saab was offering Gripen E to prospective buyers with a rolls royce engine
I’m picking up bits and pieces about Rolls Royce being now able to supply an engine, as has long been rumoured.
Is this true?
There definitely seems to be more impetus, which I believe is down to the US forcing tariffs on everyone. I don’t know if the Gripen has done a flight test with the RR engine (EJ200 derivative) yet?
I’m picking up videos suggesting that Rolls Royce has been (very quietly) involved in re-engineering engine, heat and airflow control systems for years in a way which has revolutionised performance, to the extent of possibly undermining much of the US advantage in stealth by making significant improvements which do not require fragile coatings and so on.
And so it becomes available to middle tier countries.
2nd half.
But I have not seen anything about full engine replacement, which would be necessary to avoid ITAR.
An example is “What Happens When GRIPEN E Meets the Rolls-Royce Engine? PURE POWER!” from Military PowerPlay on Youtube. I can’t find anything on my normal sources.