Saab is participating in Canada's selection of new fighters, also competing with Lockheed Martin, which supplies the F-35A, and Boeing, which supplies the F-18 Super Hornet.
Saab, in turn, is betting on the new Gripen E platform, chosen by Brazil, to win the competition for a new defense vector in Canada, which intends to soon replace its CF-188 Hornet fighters of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF ).
And one of the differentials of Saab's proposal is to allow the manufacturing of the Gripen E in Canada, as well as the manufacturer implemented a Gripen E production center in Brazil.
While aircraft assembly would be done by IMP Aerospace & Defense at its Enfield facility, the combat mission systems would be built and maintained at one of two proposed new research facilities for the Montreal area.
The production center would become a point for the transfer of knowledge and intellectual property (IP) associated with sensors, electronic warfare and combat systems, giving Canada greater control over its ability to meet NORAD and NATO mission requirements.
The other manufacturers, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, do not have the same proposals for their fighters, but the F-35 is already a current generation fighter, while the Gripen E is a 4th Generation Plus (++).
While the Gripen Center in Montreal may be unique to Canada, Saab will capitalize on its Brazilian experience with knowledge transfer “to mitigate any risks”.
In this way, a possible Gripen E from Canada may have a development similar to that of Brazil, however, with greater agility for delivery, since the certification of the fighter is close.
