Colombia has confirmed plans to purchase 16 Saab Gripen E/F fighter jets from Sweden in a landmark agreement aimed at modernizing the Colombian Aerospace Force (FAC).
The announcement was made by Defense Minister Iván Velásquez following high-level meetings with President Gustavo Petro and military leadership.
The announcement does not anticipate which variants will be ordered, but estimates the first delivery is expected to be 14 to 18 months after the contract is signed, provisionally scheduled for September 2025.
“This is not just about buying aircraft, but acquiring superior capabilities, including weapon systems and technology transfer,” said Velásquez. The Gripen jets will replace the aging fleet of Kfir fighters and usher in a new era for the Colombian Air Force.
Colombia following on the steps of Brazil and Peru, will buy fighter jets from Sweden, the Saab Gripen, to replace its aging wing of Israeli Kfir aircraft, and after declining proposals from the US and France, President Gustavo Petro announced in a post on social media.
Colombia is facing a serious security situation since the Petro administration despite election promises, has been unable to face the ongoing violence from guerrillas, drug cartels and other criminal and illegal groups.
Colombia will purchase Saab 39 Gripen jets that are “completely new, with the latest technology,” Petro wrote in a post on social media platform X. However the president did not specify the value of the deal or the number of aircraft the Colombian air force would buy.
Bogota has weighed multiple options over the past decade as its Kfir fighters become increasingly outdated. In 2022, Colombia said it was considering buying 16 Rafale fighter jets from French manufacturer Dassault after looking at the Swedish Gripen and the US F-16 s.
The announcement is also a boost for Saab Gripen E/F since other than Brazil that purchased 36 fighters in co-production, the company has previously failed to achieve any export sales of the jet. Thailand has provisionally selected the Gripen, but has not yet placed an order.
“Following the letter of intent signed by the government of the Kingdom of Sweden, and the approval of the country’s strategic air defense as a priority project, I report: the fleet of aircraft to be acquired is completely new, with the latest technology, already implemented in Brazil, and will be of the Saab 39 Gripen type.”
In a statement, Mattias Rådström, Saab’s head of media relations said, “It is very positive for Saab and Sweden that Colombia’s President Petro has announced his intention to acquire the Gripen E/F advanced multirole fighter. Saab has the most comprehensive offer for Colombia, and we are convinced that Gripen E/F is the best choice for the long-term defense, security, and prosperity of Colombia. Although no contract is yet in place, we look forward to finalizing negotiations with Colombia.”
In the past, however, Colombia has reportedly been looking to buy between 15 and 24 new or secondhand fighters to replace its Kfirs, as a matter of urgency. Colombia will likely acquire a certain number of two-seat Gripen Fs to operate alongside Gripen E single-seaters, although this too is unconfirmed.
The Gripen E/F, has often been pitched as a more affordable, albeit less capable, alternative to fifth-generation combat capabilities, such as those embodied in the F-35
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