Saab intensifies pitch to sell Gripen jets to Canada, promising assortment of benefits — The Globe and Mail
Behind the scenes, Swedish defence company is pulling out all the stops to secure major order and deepen ties
In the final-assembly hall for the Saab Gripen fighter jet in the Swedish city of Linkoping, the flags of Saab’s eight customer countries hang above the production line. A ninth spot holds a white banner reading, in red capital letters, RESERVED. Asked whether it was for Canada, a Saab official smiled, shrugged and said nothing.
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The deal locked in the purchase of the first 16 planes, which are now in production, but when American tariffs were first introduced a year and a half ago, Prime Minister Mark Carney ordered a review of the contract for the remaining 72 planes.
The F-35 review, and any potential decision on the Gripen, are now caught up in the intensifying trade war, with Washington reportedly demanding that Canada complete the full F-35 buy while calls mount for the federal government to cancel the rest of the order. In an interview, Saab CEO Micael Johansson put the decision in larger terms. “Canada has to decide, [does it] want the sovereign aerospace industry and is that important to them? That’s the first decision,” he said. “And then if they take that decision, Sweden and Saab is the best choice.”
He does not expect the F-35 to disappear; Canada has 16 under contract and has paid long-lead costs on 14 more. “I don’t think Canada will give up F-35 completely,” he said. “I have no clue how many.” Mr. Johansson insists that Saab is not asking Canada to choose between suppliers. “We’re not trying to replace F-35. That’s a Canadian sovereign decision to go F-35,” he said. And a minute later: “It’s not replacing F-35. It’s both.”