Swedish defense company Saab is in talks with the Canadian government and Bombardier to build its Gripen fighter jet under license in Canada, which is expected to create 10,000 jobs in the country, CEO Micael Johansson told Global Defense Corp on Thursday.
Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia will visit Canada from November 18 to 20, during which talks are expected to continue, according to the report.
“We can confirm that discussions about Gripen are occurring and that Bombardier is open to engage in providing local expertise for the program if the Government of Canada decides to go this route,” Bombardier said in an emailed statement.
The development comes as Sweden and Ukraine are making progress on financing for a major deal that could include Kyiv buying up to 150 Gripen E fighter jets, Sweden’s defense minister told Reuters earlier this month.
Colombia ordered 17 Gripen E/F fighter jets, and Thailand ordered four Gripen E fighter jets from Sweden.
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