Colombia Nears $1.9B Deal for 18 Saab Gripen E Fighters to Modernize Air Force

Colombia is on the verge of signing a $1.9 billion agreement with Swedish defense firm Saab for the procurement of 18 Gripen E multirole fighter jets. The deal would mark the most significant modernization effort in decades for the Colombian Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Colombiana – FAC), replacing its aging Israeli-built Kfir fleet and signaling deeper regional aerospace cooperation with Brazil and Sweden.

Strategic Leap: Replacing Colombia’s Aging Kfir Fleet

The Colombian Air Force currently operates around 20 IAI Kfir C10/C12 fighters acquired in the late 1980s and upgraded over time. Despite enhancements including EL/M-2032 radar and Python/Derby missiles, the Kfirs are increasingly obsolete due to airframe fatigue and limited upgrade potential.

The proposed acquisition of the Gripen E—a fourth-plus generation multirole fighter—would significantly enhance Colombia’s air combat capabilities. The Gripen offers advanced AESA radar (Raven ES-05), IRST (Skyward-G), electronic warfare systems, and network-centric warfare capabilities compatible with NATO standards.

According to Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s administration and defense officials cited by Infodefensa and Jane’s Defence Weekly, replacing the Kfirs is not only about maintaining deterrence but also ensuring air sovereignty over Colombia’s vast territory amid rising regional tensions and transnational threats such as drug trafficking flights.

Gripen E Configuration and Capabilities

The Saab JAS 39E Gripen is an evolution of the proven C/D variant but incorporates substantial upgrades:

Powerplant: GE F414-GE-39E engine offering increased thrust (98 kN) and improved performance at high altitudes.
Sensors: Raven ES-05 AESA radar; Skyward-G IRST system for passive tracking; advanced EW suite with DRFM-based jamming.
Weapons: Compatibility with Meteor BVRAAMs, IRIS-T/Sidewinder short-range AAMs, laser/GPS-guided munitions like GBU-49/GBU-39 SDBs.
Cockpit: Wide Area Display (WAD) touchscreen interface; full glass cockpit; voice control integration.
C4ISR: Link-16 data link compatibility; sensor fusion architecture enabling multi-domain situational awareness.

This configuration positions the Gripen E as a cost-effective alternative to heavier platforms like the F-16V or Rafale while offering high sortie rates and low operational costs—an attractive proposition for mid-tier air forces like Colombia’s FAC.

Bilateral Cooperation with Brazil Boosts Industrial Benefits

A key enabler of this deal is Brazil’s role as a regional partner in Saab’s Gripen program. Under a $4.5 billion contract signed in 2014, Brazil is acquiring 36 aircraft (28 single-seat E variants and eight twin-seat F variants) under extensive technology transfer agreements involving Embraer and other Brazilian firms such as AEL Sistemas.

This industrial base allows Colombia to benefit from regional assembly lines, logistics hubs, pilot training programs, and potentially even offset agreements involving local maintenance or parts production. Reports from Brazilian outlet Poder Aéreo suggest that Embraer could play a role in assembling or supporting Colombian aircraft deliveries starting around 2027–2028 if contracts are finalized by early 2025.

The deal may also include training packages for pilots and ground crews via Brazilian facilities already certified for Gripen operations. This South American synergy reduces logistical risk while enhancing interoperability between two major Latin American air forces operating similar platforms.

A Competitive Fighter Market Narrowed Down

The path to selecting Gripen was not without competition. Colombia had previously evaluated several fighter options over the past decade:

Dassault Rafale: France offered Rafales under flexible financing terms; however, cost per unit (~$100–120M) was reportedly prohibitive given budget constraints.
Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet: Considered during initial evaluations but lacked regional support infrastructure.
KAI FA-50 Golden Eagle: Considered as a light fighter/trainer option but lacked long-range engagement capability required by FAC doctrine.

The final shortlist reportedly came down to Saab’s Gripen E versus Dassault’s Rafale. While both platforms offer advanced capabilities, analysts point out that Sweden’s willingness to offer favorable financing terms—possibly via Swedish Export Credit Agency (EKN)—and industrial participation via Brazil tipped the scale toward Saab.

Tentative Timeline: Contract Signing by Early 2025

The Colombian Ministry of Defense has signaled that negotiations are nearing conclusion pending final budgetary approval by Congress. If approved before Q1 of FY2025—as expected—the contract would be signed shortly thereafter with deliveries beginning no earlier than late 2027 due to current production backlogs at Saab Linköping facilities and Embraer Gavião Peixoto assembly lines in Brazil.

The $1.9 billion package likely includes aircraft procurement (~$80–85 million per unit), spares, simulators, weapons integration (though not necessarily munitions themselves), training infrastructure, and long-term maintenance support over an estimated period of ten years post-delivery initiation.

Regional Implications for Latin American Air Power Balance

If finalized as expected, Colombia will become only the second nation in Latin America after Brazil to operate fourth-plus generation fighters with AESA radars—outclassing older fleets such as Peru’s MiG-29s or Venezuela’s Su-30MKV Flankers in terms of sensor fusion and BVR combat capability despite raw thrust disparities.

This acquisition could prompt neighboring countries like Chile or Argentina to revisit their own modernization plans amid growing concerns about strategic parity across South America’s Andean corridor. It may also increase opportunities for joint exercises under regional security frameworks like SICOFAA (System of Cooperation Among American Air Forces).

A Strategic Investment Amid Fiscal Constraints

The deal comes at a time when Colombia faces significant fiscal pressures due to post-pandemic recovery needs and internal security priorities against insurgent groups like ELN or dissident FARC factions. However, defense planners argue that postponing air superiority investments risks leaving critical gaps in national airspace control—a concern highlighted during recent unauthorized incursions by narco-trafficking aircraft from Venezuela or Central America using low-level penetration tactics undetectable by ground-based radars alone.

Outlook: From Paperwork to Runway

If negotiations proceed smoothly into early next year—with legislative approval secured—the first batch of Colombian Gripens could take flight before decade’s end. The program would mark not just an aircraft upgrade but a doctrinal shift toward networked aerial warfare supported by allied interoperability across Latin America’s southern hemisphere security architecture.