Saab has said Canada could play a role in the development of future sixth-generation combat aircraft technologies, as Ottawa continues to review the scope of its planned acquisition of F-35A fighter jets.
According to a CBC News report on March 4, 2026, the Swedish defense company believes Canada could become a partner in shaping next-generation air combat capabilities while positioning its Gripen fighter as a potential alternative in Canada’s fighter replacement program.
Launched in 2023, Sweden’s Koncept för Framtida Stridsflyg (KFS), or Future Combat Aviation Concept, is a national effort to define the country’s next-generation air combat capability. In October 2025, Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) awarded Saab a contract worth about SEK 2.6 billion ($283 million) to continue research into the KFS program. The effort focuses on technologies for next-generation air combat, including both manned and unmanned systems.
The program aims to explore how future fighters could operate as part of a broader “system of systems,” combining crewed aircraft, autonomous platforms and advanced sensors.
Saab has suggested that partners could contribute to these future capabilities, positioning Canada as a potential participant in shaping the technologies that may define sixth-generation combat aviation.
Saab highlights industrial partnership with Canada
Saab’s message to Canada has centered on the potential for deeper industrial cooperation, particularly through domestic production and long-term aerospace workshare.
The company has previously proposed building Gripen fighters and GlobalEye airborne early warning aircraft in Canada if Ottawa selects the Swedish offer. Such a plan could involve Canadian aerospace companies including Bombardier, for which the Global 6000 business jet serves as the platform for the GlobalEye system.
Saab has argued that a Canadian-based production line could support thousands of jobs while ensuring that much of the intellectual property and maintenance work remains in the country.
The industrial dimension has been a recurring element of Saab’s outreach. In 2025, the company confirmed discussions with Canadian authorities and Bombardier regarding potential licensed production of the Gripen, emphasizing long-term domestic economic benefits.
Canada maintains commitment to F-35 program
Canada originally selected the F-35A under the Future Fighter Capability Project, which envisions the acquisition of 88 aircraft to replace the Royal Canadian Air Force’s aging CF-18 fleet.
However, Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed in early 2026 that Canada has so far committed funding only for an initial batch of aircraft. Ottawa has contracted for 16 F-35As and begun making payments for long-lead components for 14 additional aircraft.
The payments preserve Canada’s place in the production queue while leaving room for political and industrial discussions about the long-term structure of the fleet.
US warns against reducing F-35 purchase
US officials have warned that reducing Canada’s planned F-35 purchase could affect interoperability within the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Washington has suggested the US might need to increase its own fighter presence in Canadian airspace if Ottawa scaled back its planned fleet.
A separate CBC report highlighted that, in addition to the US-made GE F414G engine, a Canadian Gripen purchase would depend on US-controlled interoperability hardware, such as the Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) used for Link 16. Washington could, in theory, withhold these components, potentially undermining the feasibility of a mixed F-35–Gripen fleet from the outset.
10 comments
THE RCAF SINCE IT,S INCEPTION HAS HAD MANY MULTI TYPES AIRCRAFT IN IT,S FLEET TO THINK OTHERWISE IS UNINFORMED AND TO PUT IT BLUNTLY IS STUPID
Canada can not be held hostage by the whims of a rogue president/country. If canada buys 88 F35s we will no longer be a sovereign country. The Americans will have full control over our military’s effectiveness using this leverage to bully our economy and interfere with policy. They will absolutely use this control to further their own agenda pushing canada further become a compliant subordinate rather than a strong sovereign country. To buy the F35 is to concede to becoming the 51st state, full stop. The Canadian people deserve better. The Grippen offers a strong partnership with a reliable country and future opportunities for jobs and next gen technology to bring back what we once had in the arrow. CANADA FIRTS, CANADA STRONG!
I dont get it Saab is giving us everything / we are going to be using Australian over the horizon system which takes the usa norad crap out of the picture so they will have to reset whatever needs to be compatible with us and after all trumps crap and the price for there superior lol f35 that is only available 40% of the time and the fact that they dont deserve a dime from us Carney is doing great dont fuck it up by giving them anything it’s time they learn a gard lesson trump will be dead when he gets jailed
What a awesome idea this would be the best thing that could ever happen, we definitely do not to be living under the cloak of the USA as it’s plain to see where it’s going thanks to the president of that place. Too also be clear, Canada did have the Avro that was way before it’s time and scrapped because of USA pressure to do so , why listen to them!
A mixed fleet 40 F35s and 80 Gripen would be a better choice. The US jets have a much lower turn around time and the north defence posture would make them unreliable. The next generation that sweden is able to provide would be in the middle time frame of 30 years of the original production and delivery of the initial mixed fleet orders. The US will always be behind in the original purchase delivery of the F35. The US knows that and that would contribute to lost sales world wide. If the US is so adamant of Canada to purchase F35s then give zcanada cart Blanche in the use of their aircraft. No “secret key” since we are in NORAD”.
The US in the 50’s had no problem killing our Avro Arrow program. Canada had a Prime Minister Diefenbaker with no backbone who bowed down to the USA same as every Conservative prime minister since Confederation
It is time for Canada to become a whole lot less dependent on the USA. We are a sovereign nation. We have all the resources and reliable international allies that the USA is becoming less important all the time.
Canadian sovereignty, as well as both current and future job prospects with like-minded win-win mindset economic stability, to be free of unreliable hegemon zero sum, conditions of uncertainty, are even more critical now in 2026, with issues of middle nation compliance and trade partnerships, to allow Canada to be in stronger decision making discussions. The prospects to work with SAAB is the sensible and cost effective decision that also factors in the options to manufacture evolving jet classes for use by Canada and for sale to like-minded global nations; the other options are too expensive, unreliable, risky, uncertain, and place Canada in vulnerability to become annexed by hegemon ideologies that will never go away.
Saab should first get these 5th gen engines and maybe then talk about 6th gen fighters 😉
Saab has already flown a Grippen remotely , thats the future ,think how long it takes to train a F35 pilot,in a couple of years one pilot will fly three Grippens .
While I support a mixed fleet and have been an avid supporter of Canada’s Air Force since watching the F-86, CF-100, CF-101, CF-104, CF-5 and now the CF-18 I’m sure Canada is capable of a mixed fleet. I’m not an anti USA or anti Trump person as leaders come and go. But Canada has a history of being compatible with USA systems and munitions. Canada could not participate in Desert Storm due to inoperability of our radio and munitions with the USA or other countries. Our outdated tanks technology and CF-18 could not participate. The CF-18 could only be used as Top Cover as that was the only mission they were capable at that time. 2026 Canada does require inter-operabilty. The Gripen E is a nice fighter for peace time, detection, applied sovereignty but not as a first strike fighter or 5th Gen fighter. My wish list (if the goal is anti USA) would be the 34 F35 and remainder Eurofighter Typhoon instead of the new F15. Then as SAAB develops it’s 6th Gen version acquire 100 Gripens to replace F35 in 2035-2040 if Canada still exists by then. I anticipate a lot of changes within the next decade that will define a NEW WORLD ORDER which will dictate the new country requirements.