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Gripen E

The JAS 39 "Griffin" fighter jet, developed by the Swedish defense giant Saab Group, stood out from rivals such as the American F-16 and the French "Rafale" and won the favor of the Colombian government. The two parties signed a contract worth 3.1 billion euros on 14 November and it was expected that the "Griffin" fighter jets would be delivered within 5 years to achieve the goal of modernizing Colombia's air combat capabilities. The Colombian government and Saab Group signed a procurement contract for 17 JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets, 15 of which are single-seat E-configuration aircraft and 2 are two-seat F-configuration aircraft. In addition to the aircraft themselves, the contract also includes sub-agreements on cooperation in defense, technology and infrastructure between the two sides, which will enhance Colombia's air combat capabilities and strengthen its military industrial base.

In April 2025, Colombian Space Force Commander Carlos Silva stated that the country might purchase 16 to 24 Griffin fighter jets to replace the Israeli-made Kfir fighter jets, which have been in service for over 40 years, in order to modernize its combat capabilities. Prior to this, the country had also considered the F-16 from Lockheed Martin and the Rafale fighter jet from Dassault Aviation, but ultimately chose the Griffin fighter jet, which can take off and land in more challenging environments. The Colombian government was set to sign a US$1.9 billion agreement with Sweden to acquire 18 [not 17 ] Saab Gripen E fighter jets. Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the contract for the purchase of Gripen fighter jets from Sweden will be signed in October, marking the renewal of Colombia's strategic air capability after years of wear and tear on the Israeli-made Kfir fleet. Alongside the JAS Gripen, the Colombian air force considered several alternatives, including the American F-16 Fighting Falcon, used by Chile and Venezuela; the Eurofighter Typhoon, used by several Western countries; and France’s Dassault Rafale, a highly regarded but costly aircraft.

This acquisition will be formalized following the final technical and social reviews between the Ministry of Defense and the Presidency. "The contract will be signed this month. Today we have a meeting with the president to define some final issues related to offset, which has a social impact on the acquisition of this capacity to protect all Colombians for the next 50 years and also seeks social impact in energy, water, and health issues," the minister stated. According to media statements, Pedro Sánchez explained that the signing date will be finalized and that only adjustments related to the offset conditions, the mechanism that seeks industrial and social compensation based on the contract, are pending.

This operation, explained officials from the Ministry of Defense, amounts to approximately 16 trillion pesos, representing more than $1.9 billion, and will be financed by the Swedish government through a long-term loan with an initial term of eight years. According to Sánchez, "regarding the drafting of the contract, it is practically finalized; it simply requires a few adjustments, and we hope that the contract will be signed before the end of October."

If Colombia would contract 18 new Gripen E/F fighters for more than $1.9 billion, this put the unit cost at around $105.5 million per aircraft. That raises questions, since Thailand's recent order for additional Gripens came at a price of about $150 million per jet. It also remained to be seen whether the Gripens for Colombia will be assembled in Brazil by Embraer, which produces them under license for the Brazilian Air Force.

According to earlier reports by Colombian local media outlet El Tiempo, by June 2025 President Petro’s government was preparing to sign the contract for the acquisition of 39 Swedish Saab Gripen aircraft in September. The news was already announced by the Colombian government in April, though rumors circulated about a possible change of decision following commercial overtures between the South American country and China. “We expect to sign the contract around September, and from that date, it will take approximately 16 to 18 months, depending on the production level we manage to finalize, to have the first aircraft here,” revealed the Minister. President Petro made the announcement 03 April 2025 on his X.com account: “After the letter of intent signed by the government of the Kingdom of Sweden and the approval of the country’s strategic air defense as a prioritized project, I inform: The fleet of aircraft to be acquired is completely new, featuring the latest technology, already implemented in Brazil, and consists of Saab 39 Gripen models.” According to the President, the deal includes several investments with social purpose across Colombia. “There will be compensation in social investment, which will include a factory for the production of flexible solar panels with cutting-edge technology, to be located in the department of Córdoba; the installation of potable water systems at various points in the department of La Guajira; and the restoration and installation of state-of-the-art medical technology equipment in the central tower of the San Juan de Dios Hospital in Bogota,” he said. Ekot, a Swedish broadcaster, had informed of the decision a few months earlier, stating the purchase will first consist of three or four fighters, with a final objective of obtaining 10 to 16. With only 10 of the 19 Kfirs C12 currently operational, Colombia was at risk of losing combat-ready aircraft due to the need for Israeli maintenance. Colombia hardened its stance with Israel in May 2024, before intensifying its verbal spats with Washington in 2025. At the UN General Assembly, discussions have become so tense that they have exposed a recurring crisis with the United States. Under these conditions, any weapons system that depends on American licenses or Israeli equipment becomes a gamble on the mood of the moment. The issue was not whether the Gripen E/F is a good aircraft, but whether the Colombian announcement protects fighter capability in 2026, when the Kfirs will emerge from scheduled maintenance. Between legal export frameworks, material schedules, and political tensions, the margin for error was shrinking.

The decision to replace the Kfirs with Saab 39 Gripens was made after persistent warnings from the Colombian Air Force about the deterioration of Israeli aircraft. Semana revealed that several aircraft were decommissioned due to obsolescence and high maintenance costs. Sources consulted by the same outlet specified that the agency had to enter a "cannibalization" phase, using parts from inactive aircraft to keep those that could still fly operational.

Gripen E/F aircraft from the Swedish company SAAB was chosen as a replacement for the veteran Kfir aircraft after a lengthy technical and fiscal evaluation process. The project was COP 16.8 billion, approximately $4.3 billion USD, representing the largest investment in Colombian air defense in recent decades. With SAAB as the supplier of the next combat aircraft, the CIAC can achieve a technology transfer that will allow the country to consider its own aeronautical industry or the supply and maintenance of its own defense infrastructure.

The Council of Ministers, chaired by President Gustavo Petro, the Minister of Finance and Public Credit of Colombia, presented a comprehensive report 22 October 2025 on the progress of the Colombian Aerospace Force (FAC) combat aircraft renewal. This is one of the most important strategic projects for the modernization of the country's defense capabilities, and one for which the Gripen E/F from the Swedish company SAAB is the chosen aircraft. The contract would be signed in the first week of November.

The fiscal endorsement from the Higher Council for Fiscal Policy (CONFIS) was approved on August 8, ensuring the project's financial sustainability within the framework of the National Government's fiscal goals. Subsequently, CONPES document 4155, which defines the policy and technical and financial guidelines for the fighter fleet renewal, was approved on September 1, establishing the program's strategic objectives and their alignment with the National Development Plan.

The minister emphasized that the acquisition of the Gripen aircraft has positive impacts in sectors other than the military . Associated projects include: strengthening the local aerospace industry through the Aerospace Industry Center (CIA); joint initiatives with the Ministry of Mines focused on solar panels; programs to improve access to drinking water in La Guajira in conjunction with the Ministry of Housing; and support for the Ministry of Health through technology transfer. "This change seeks to generate positive impacts on the environment. A change in the areas of energy, water, and health," said Pedro Sánchez.

The purchase of the military fleet sparked criticism of President Gustavo Petro, given that during the presidential campaign he promised to prioritize investment in education over military spending. Furthermore, Petro had declared that he would neutralize the ELN guerrillas in the short term, pledging to resign if his peace plans failed, which intensified the political debate.

Although President Gustavo Petro had initially announced that the contract for the Gripen aircraft would be ready in September, the ministry confirmed that this target was postponed to October , following the completion of the required negotiation rounds and legal processes. In Pedro Sánchez's words, "once the contract is signed, the exact date of the aircraft's arrival in Colombian territory will be confirmed," marking the beginning of a new era for national air defense.