Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) News and Discussions

[hauritz]

Defence spending increase could mean Canada buys more than 88 fighter jets, says RCAF general


As I was saying.

That "16/72 split" talk was ridiculous anyway.

Canada is in an awkward situation with the F-35. The 16 on order is barely enough for a single squadron. The cost of maintaining such a small fleet sounds like it could be a logistical nightmare. The 40/80 mix suggested in the article would give Canada at least some economy of scale while not being entirely dependant on the whims of the USA. Problem is that for all the discussion of getting Gripens you have to wonder if they are really the sort of aircraft you would want to be flying in the 2050s and beyond. There is GCAP on the horizon but that is still 10 - 15 years away.

As I said it is an akward position for Canada to find itself in.

 

[Terran]

“The 40/80 mix suggested in the article would give Canada at least some economy of scale while not being entirely dependant on the whims of the USA.”

Unless SAAB and Canada go through a major design overhaul to the Grippen it’s still using an American engine, American sourced life support. It’s still the Inferior aircraft by even the Canadian MOD measure. It’s going to take maybe a decade to build up the base of production which is going to be a 4.5 generation fighter in the mid to late 2030s.

 

[hauritz]

Unless SAAB and Canada go through a major design overhaul to the Grippen it’s still using an American engine, American sourced life support. It’s still the Inferior aircraft by even the Canadian MOD measure. It’s going to take maybe a decade to build up the base of production which is going to be a 4.5 generation fighter in the mid to late 2030s.

Yep, even fitting a RR engine won't solve the problem. The more I think about the more I think that Canada might have to stick with the F-35. Whether it commits to the full 88 is another issue. They could leave their options open for GCAP down the track.

 

[John Fedup]

Fewer F-35s is the likely decision regardless of whether Gripens are ordered or not. GCAP should absolutely be considered. No more F-35s until block 4 is finished and no going past 40 until the ECU is ready at which point GCAP will be close.

 

[koxinga]

Alert5 was at the Singapore Airshow 2026 and spoke with the Saab representatives on the global prospects for the E/F.

Saab Gripen program update - Singapore Airshow 2026 - Alert 5

Saab is moving aggressively to expand Gripen production capacity to 36 aircraft per year, a significant increase driven by a swelling order book and growing interest from countries reconsidering their reliance on traditional defense suppliers. The Swedish manufacturer signed contracts for 21 new...

alert5.com

For Canada..

Canada’s Mixed Fleet Question
The most intriguing prospect for Saab may be Canada, which is conducting a strategic defense review that includes questions about its fighter fleet composition. Rather than replacing its planned F-35 purchases, Canada is exploring whether adding Gripens to create a mixed fleet would provide better capability and value.

Franzén acknowledged the unusual nature of the campaign. “Many are speculating, you know, will they replace the F-35 with Gripens. I don’t think that is what they’re looking for,” he said. “I think they’re looking for could it be stronger to have a mixed fleet.”

The pitch hinges on complementary strengths. The Gripen offers higher availability, lower operating costs, and rapid adaptability through software updates, while the F-35 brings stealth and other capabilities. For the same budget, Saab argues, Canada could field more total aircraft with a mixed fleet than with F-35s alone.

If Canada proceeds, Saab proposes building initial aircraft in Sweden for quick delivery, then shifting production to Canada using the country’s existing aerospace industrial base. When asked if a Canadian production line would serve only domestic needs, Franzén indicated it would produce for export as well.

The timeline is tight. Canada needs replacement capability before 2032, and speculation suggests the requirement could reach up to 80 Gripens if the mixed fleet concept proceeds. That would require moving quickly through what Saab acknowledges will be a complex process of integrating a second fighter type into Canadian operations.