Sweden has taken an important step towards strengthening the presence of Gripen E/F fighter jets manufactured by Saab, one of the major players in the defense industry, in the Latin American market. According to news from Army Recognition, the Swedish government has requested approval from the Swedish parliament, Riksdag, for the procurement of 12 Gripen E/Fs for the fighter jet tender opened by the Peruvian Air Force as part of its modernization efforts. This request aims to authorize an intergovernmental agreement by adding it to the spring 2025 budget proposal. The approval of the Riksdag will mean the start of the official process for the procurement of Gripen E/F fighter jets between Sweden and Peru.
Sweden’s offer to Peru includes not only the state-of-the-art Gripen E/F fighter jets, but also the supply of related systems that will enhance Peru’s air defense capabilities. Should Peru win this important tender with the Gripen E/F, it will be the second Latin American country, after Brazil, to officially order this modern fighter jet. This development is an important part of Sweden and Saab’s broad export strategy in Latin America.
Saab’s strategy in the region is centered on the local production line established in Brazil’s Gavião Peixoto region and the strategic partnerships established with Brazilian aviation giant Embraer. This cooperation model, which has been successfully implemented in Brazil, is planned to be implemented in Peru in a similar manner if the intergovernmental agreement progresses. This approach offers advantages such as technology transfer and the development of local industry, making it an attractive option for buyer countries. Saab’s ongoing negotiations with other Latin American countries, Colombia and North American Canada, for the procurement of Gripen fighter jets, in addition to Peru, demonstrate the company’s ambitious stance in the global market.
Peru’s fighter jet tender comes as the country’s current air force inventory of Russian-made MiG-29 and French-made Mirage 2000 fighter jets has reached the end of its life. In July of last year, General Chávez Cateriano of the Peruvian Air Force announced that they were looking for new-generation fighter jets to replace these aircraft in the inventory. The general stated that three different models had been identified that could meet the needs of the Peruvian Air Force, but did not share any details about which models these were.
In October 2024, Peruvian Defense Minister Walter Enrique Astudillo Chávez announced plans to procure a total of 29 fighter jets to replace the MiG-2000 and Mirage 24P fleets. Initially, five different aircraft models were reportedly being considered, but now the shortlist includes three strong candidates: the Gripen E/F from Sweden, the F-16V Block 70 from the United States, and the Rafale F4 from France. The Peruvian government has requested a loan of approximately $2 billion (7,58 billion soles) from Banco de la Nación to finance the first phase of this significant purchase. It is anticipated that this financing will cover the first part of the aircraft procurement process, with different avenues being considered for the remaining financing.
The approval that Sweden is awaiting from the Riksdag could pave the way for a potential deal with Peru, which could mean significant success for Saab in the Latin American market. The successful partnership model established with Brazil could be implemented in Peru, further increasing the influence of the Swedish defense industry in the region. While Peru’s final decision and the offers of other candidates are eagerly awaited, this strategic move by Sweden has the potential to affect the defense balance in Latin America.
