Gripens bound for Ukraine could be built in Canada: Saab

OTTAWA — Swedish defence firm Saab says if Ottawa chooses to buy its Gripen E fighter jets, Canada could end up making some of the ones destined for Ukraine’s air force.

Saab says up to 20 of its Gripen jets will be built for Ukraine under a European Union support loan agreement and Sweden will donate 16 older-model Gripens to the war-torn country.

Saab’s deputy CEO Andres Carp tells The Canadian Press that Canada could become a production and export site and could deliver Gripens to Ukraine if the federal government chooses to invest in the product itself.

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government has been reviewing whether to proceed with a full order of 88 F-35 fighter jets for more than a year now.