Swedish aerospace giant SAAB says Canada could gain as many as 10,000 new manufacturing and research jobs if Ottawa decides to add the company’s Gripen fighter jets to its military fleet. In an interview at SAAB’s Stockholm headquarters, President and CEO Micael Johansson told CTV News he has discussed with Ottawa the possibility of building Gripen aircraft directly on Canadian soil.
Johansson said the company is prepared to offer full technology transfer, allowing Canada to assemble, upgrade and test the jets domestically. Major Canadian aerospace firms — including Montreal-based Bombardier and CAE, as well as IMP Aerospace & Defence in Nova Scotia — would likely be key partners in such a deal.
“If Canada wants sovereign capabilities…we are prepared to do that,” Johansson said. “We could do a technology transfer to Canada and support that build up.”
SAAB says it is open to forming a joint venture with a Canadian partner or expanding existing collaborations. The project could involve constructing a new facility or converting an existing plant, with the first Canadian-built Gripen potentially flying within three to five years.
The proposal is not only aimed at supplying the Canadian Armed Forces. Johansson said a Canadian production hub would also support international orders — including from Ukraine, which has signalled interest in acquiring up to 100 Gripen jets. To meet that demand, SAAB would need new manufacturing hubs, and Johansson said Canada offers both capacity and strategic alignment, especially on Arctic security.
With Sweden’s small population limiting its engineering and production workforce, Johansson called a partnership with Canada a “win-win.”
Canada has already committed to purchasing 16 F-35 fighter jets from U.S. manufacturer Lockheed Martin, with an option to scale up to 88. However, earlier this year, Prime Minister Mark Carney ordered a review of the F-35 acquisition. Ottawa is still considering whether to proceed exclusively with the American jets or adopt a mixed fleet that includes Gripens.
A major Swedish delegation led by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia will visit Ottawa and Montreal next week, aiming to strengthen defence ties. Johansson will join the delegation, with a planned visit to Bombardier’s Montreal facilities — a signal of growing industrial discussions, though no announcement is yet expected.
Johansson emphasized that SAAB is not lobbying, but responding to questions from Ottawa as the government evaluates its options. “It would be great for Sweden, for Canada and for Europe to deepen relationships on security and defence,” he said. “But it’s up to Canada. We are providing information — the decision is theirs.”