Canada 'interested' in potential purchase Gripen fighter jet from Sweden's Saab, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said Tuesday, adding that Canada “hasn't received enough” from F-35 Deals for the production of fighter jets from the American company Lockheed Martin.
“We are looking at both issues at the same time,” Joly told reporters ahead of a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
“I don't believe we've created enough jobs and enough industrial benefits from the F-35 contract. I don't think it's enough. I think Canadians expect more and we should get more,” she said.
“With the Gripen, of course we're really interested in seeing what can be done,” she said, adding that Swedish defense giant Saab has offered Ottawa 10,000 new Canadian manufacturing jobs.
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“Ten thousand jobs is a really interesting proposition,” she said, adding that Ottawa is “in negotiations with Saab.”
“At the same time, we are looking at what Lockheed Market can do more,” Joly added.
Negotiations to replace Canada's aging fighter jet fleet Swedish royal family is set to arrive in Ottawa on Tuesday to begin a three-day state visit with a delegation of senior government ministers and representatives of dozens of Swedish companies.
King Carl XVI Gustaf, Sweden's longest-reigning monarch, and Queen Silvia visit Ottawa and Montreal on their first trip to Canada since 2006.
The Canadian delegation, which includes Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Wagner, will formally welcome the royal couple at Rideau Hall on Tuesday morning.
Replacement of Canada's fleet
With increased demands on the Canadian Armed Forces and geopolitical risks highlighted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, pressure continues to mount on the government to speed up procurement as it replaces Canada's aging fleet of CF-18 fighter jets.
This process has been going on for more than 20 years.
In 2022, Ottawa said it would moving forward with the conclusion of negotiations for the purchase of Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets after decades of debate and a process that saw both the F-35 and Saab Gripen reach the final round.
The Royal Canadian Air Force must be able to operate both with the Americans to fulfill NORAD's commitments to joint continental defense and with European allies for NATO efforts.
Defense Minister David McGuinty began reviewing the decision on the F-35 earlier this year after US President Donald Trump launched a trade war and tariffs against Canada.
The renewed openness to considering the Gripen comes amid a broader political, economic and strategic push to reduce Canada's dependence on the US and seek closer strategic ties with European allies.
The United States also controls the export and modernization of F-35 technology, which requires congressional approval for sales to other countries.
On Tuesday, Joly said Canada had received an “unsolicited offer” from Saab for the Gripen.
She said the application “currently” offers 10,000 jobs.
“We’ll see how concrete it is,” she said.
— With files from Global's Amanda Connolly and The Canadian Press.
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