Saab has announced plans to significantly expand production of the Gripen E/F fighters, targeting an assembly capacity of up to 36 aircraft per year to meet growing international demand.
According to information released by FlightGlobal, the company believes this number could be exceeded in the future, driven by new orders and ongoing bidding processes.
Part of this expansion will not be limited to Saab’s main factory in Sweden. The company’s strategy involves decentralizing production, with industrial units in other countries playing a significant role in assembly and component manufacturing. Brazil is already an example of this model, with the factory operated by Embraer in partnership with Saab about to deliver the first aircraft to the Brazilian Air Force.
Confirmed orders from countries such as Thailand, Colombia, and Sweden give Saab a solid base to continue competing for new contracts in markets like Portugal, the Philippines, and Ukraine. At the same time, the situation in Canada remains uncertain, as the government reviews its initial intention to acquire 88 F-35A fighters from the United States, having confirmed only 16 units so far.
Looking at this scenario, Saab has offered Canada the possibility of producing the Gripen locally in partnership with domestic companies, replicating the model adopted in Brazil. Ukraine has also shown interest in adopting the same strategy starting in 2033, in a project that could involve everything from final aircraft assembly to the production of individual parts and systems.
Source: Militarnyi | Photos: Saab | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
