The Canadian Armed Forces would need to buy 72 Gripen fighter jets and six GlobalEye surveillance aircraft for Swedish manufacturer Saab to deliver on its pledge of creating 12,600 jobs in Canada, CBC News has learned. Saab confirmed that the promise of 12,600 jobs is linked to the sale of Gripen and GlobalEye aircraft to Canada. To create more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs in Canada, Saab plans production centres in Ontario and Quebec with a pan-Canadian supplier network. Purchasing a Gripen fleet was the top choice for supporters of the NDP (60 per cent) and the Liberal Party (51 per cent). After running a competition between the F-35 and the Gripen, the government of Canada opted for the F-35 in 2023.

Source: CBC News January 14, 2026 21:26 UTC