Saab Commits to Working With Canadian Aerospace Companies if Ottawa Selects Gripen Fighter
By Robb M. Stewart
Saab pledged to work with several Canadian aerospace companies if the Canadian government opts for its Gripen jet fighters as an alternative to Lockheed Martin's F-35s.
The Swedish company said it intends to collaborate with CAE, Magellan Aerospace and privately held IMP as it establishes a broad, coast-to-coast network of partners that will build, deliver and support the Gripen E fighter.
If the jet is picked by Ottawa, Saab said it and its partners will establish in-country support for production, final assembly, support and further development of air-power capabilities.
Saab said it has now signed a teaming agreement with Nova Scotia-based IMP to establish a new final assembly line for the Gripen in Canada. IMP also would be responsible for electrical-assembly production and in-service support for Canadian jets.
A memorandum of understanding has been signed with Magellan Aerospace to provide local manufacturing of advanced aerostructures, composite structures and structural assemblies in Canada, if the government buys the aircraft.
Saab in July lined up CAE to provide training for pilots and technicians, including establishing a Canadian-based training ecosystem for developing of Canadian-specific simulator capabilities.
Saab's pitch to Prime Minister Mark Carney's government positions the partnerships as a way to strengthen Canada's defense abilities at a time when Ottawa is beefing up spending and looking at suppliers and defense pacts beyond the U.S. Carney's government last year said it was reviewing a 2023 deal to buy up to 88 F-35s amid increasingly tense relations between Canada and the U.S. since President Trump returned to office.
Canada has become the first non-European country to join Europe's defense-procurement pact, and the country has agreed a preliminary deal to buy six surveillance aircraft from Saab.
Write to Robb M. Stewart at robb.stewart@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 27, 2026 10:05 ET (14:05 GMT)
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