In pursuit of $19B contract, Sweden's Saab offers to build fleet of fighter jets in Canada

National Post ^ | May 29, 2019 | David Pugliese

[sukhoi-30mki]

A Swedish aerospace firm that hopes to supply Canada’s new fleet of fighter jets says it could build the aircraft in this country, making maximum use of the expertise of domestic firms and creating high-tech jobs.

Saab’s pitch to build its Gripen E fighter jet in Canada further ups the ante on the $19-billion competition that will see the federal government purchase 88 new aircraft.

The Liberal government has been emphasizing the transfer of new technology and expertise to Canadian aerospace firms as well as the creation of high-tech jobs as among its key goals for the fighter jet program.

Another European firm, Airbus, has hinted it could also build its Typhoon fighters in Canada, but Saab said if the federal government wants the planes built on a domestic production line its commitment is solid.

For the Canadian program, Saab is hoping to follow the same process that helped it win a recent fighter jet competition in Brazil. The first batch of Gripen E fighter jets are being built in Sweden but the technology is then being transferred to Brazilian firms so they can assemble the remaining aircraft.

“We think that is the model that makes sense for Canada,” Patrick Palmer, senior vice-president of Saab Canada, told Postmedia. “We’re going down that path but we’re also looking at how the (request for proposals) is written and what the customer values. Certainly if that is what the customer values for Canada that is something that we can easily do.”

Aerospace firms have been told that the federal government will request their proposals in mid-July.

The fighter jet competition was launched on Dec. 12, 2017 and at this point four aircraft are to be considered. Those include the F-35, the Super Hornet, the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Gripen.

[sukhoi-30mki]

Saab is offering to build the Gripen E fighter jet in Canada as part of its pitch to win the Canadian competition to supply 88 aircraft.Saab

[gaijin]

Hardy, affordable, reliable, flexible:

I love that thing.

[RayChuang88]

I think Saab could use part of Bombardier's assembly line in Montreal to build the plane. Fitted with the GE F414 engine, the JAS 39 Gripen is actually a much-underrated fighter.

[Grey182]

Maybe, Saab wants to get out of Sweden. While they can...

[shanover]

I used to drive Saabs (900 Series). I loved them. GM destroyed the brand and now China owns the rights I believe. Sweden also makes great looking women. I would take a Swedish car and Swedish woman any day.

[caddie]

I had four SAABs over the years.

They were the awesomest, but had some design flaws that put them in the shop frequently.

Sure wish they would come back.

Put them in frozen coniferous forests up North somewhere and the boneheads wouldn't even know they'd left Sweden.

Which they need to do. Forthwith.