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Saab is bidding for Canada’s Future Fighter Capability Project (FFCP) and announced on Mar. 2 that leading Canadian aerospace companies IMP Aerospace & Defence, CAE, Peraton Canada and GE Aviation are the ‘Gripen for Canada Team.’
Saab is offering the Gripen E, with the support of the Swedish government, for Canada’s future fighter requirement of 88 new aircraft to replace the Royal Canadian Air Force’s existing CF-188 Hornet fighter fleet. The Canadian Request for Proposal requires companies to deliver high-quality industrial and technological benefits, such as Saab has demonstrated with Gripen for Brazil, and is offering for Finland and India’s fighter requirements.
Saab’s bid to the Government of Canada will include a comprehensive proposal to deliver those benefits, with high quality jobs and technology, adding greater economic value and knowledge across Canadian industry coast to coast. This announcement is the first step toward achieving this offer with IMP Aerospace & Defence, CAE, Peraton Canada and GE Aviation as the Gripen for Canada Team.
“Over the past two years, Saab and the Swedish Government have been encouraged by Canada’s open and transparent competition to replace its fighter fleet. Today, we are delighted to announce the Gripen for Canada Team. We have assembled a dynamic roster of innovative leaders within Canada’s aerospace industry, across multiple regions, to offer the best solution for Canada’s future fighter,” said Jonas Hjelm, senior vice-president and head of Business Area Aeronautics. He further stated that, “Saab is committed to securing long-term relationships in Canada that will create a significant number of highly-skilled, sustainable jobs for Canadians within domestic and international supply chains.”
IMP Aerospace & Defence will contribute in-country production and in-service support for the life of the Canadian Gripen fleet. CAE will provide training and mission systems solutions, while Peraton Canada will provide avionics and test equipment component maintenance, repair and overhaul, and material management. GE Aviation will provide and sustain the fighter’s engines in Canada.
The Gripen for Canada Team presents a genuine made-in-Canada solution and looks forward to demonstrating how Gripen is the best value for Canada’s aerospace industry and taxpayers in terms of lifecycle costs and sustainment throughout the FFCP competition.
Saab’s Gripen fighter meets all of Canada’s specific defence requirements, offering exceptional performance, advanced technical capabilities, future-proof upgradeability and NATO interoperability.
Read Skies’ previous story on the Gripen here.
