Colombia will get 15 Gripen E single-seater and two Gripen F twin-seater fighters, to be delivered between 2026 and 2032.
Saab introduced it has signed the contract with Colombia for the acquisition of the Gripen E/F, after the choice in April 2025. The contract, signed on Nov. 15, 2025, contains 15 Gripen E single-seater and two Gripen F twin-seater fighters, in addition to related gear and weapons, coaching and companies.
The order is valued €3.1 billion (USD3.6 billion), with the deliveries of the 17 plane deliberate between 2026 and 2032. Moreover, Saab and the Colombian Authorities additionally signed two offset agreements for each army and social tasks, together with aeronautics, cyber safety, well being, sustainable vitality and water purification know-how.
“I’m honored that Colombia has chosen Gripen E/F to boost its air defence capabilities and delighted to welcome Colombia into the Gripen household. This marks the start of a robust and long-term partnership that may strengthen Colombia’s defence and safety, profit its individuals, and increase the nation’s innovation energy.”
— Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab.
Gripen and Colombia
The choice and acquisition of the Gripen E/F by Colombia follows almost two years of speculations and unconfirmed reviews. Colombian President Gustavo Petro personally introduced the choice on social media, with a letter of intent signed by his workplace, the Swedish Ambassador Helena Storm and Saab representatives.
Petro stated on the time the acquisition would enhance the “strategic air protection of Colombia.” Particulars in regards to the deal weren’t launched again then, though the President famous “the fleet of plane to be acquired is totally new, with the newest know-how, already deployed in Brazil, and is a Saab 39 Gripen model.”
This deal makes Colombia the seventh worldwide person of the Saab Gripen, becoming a member of the producer’s nation Sweden, Brazil, Czech Republic, Hungary, Thailand and South Africa. Each Swedish authorities’s and Saab’s officers welcomed the information in regards to the choice.
Colombia has determined to accumulate 17 Gripen E/F from @Saab. With Colombia becoming a member of the Gripen household, Minister for Defence @PlJonson is trying ahead to deepening the defence coverage cooperation with Colombia. pic.twitter.com/uhkVYbPNq5
— Försvarsdepartementet (@ForsvarsdepSv) November 15, 2025
“With the Colombian buy of 17 Gripen E/F, our defence relations will deepen considerably & Colombia will obtain one of many world’s biggest fighter jets,” Swedish Protection Minister Pal Jonson wrote on X.
As soon as in service within the Colombian Air Drive, the Gripens will change the 20 outdated IAI (Israeli Aerospace Industries) Kfir jets acquired within the Eighties. The service first tried to exchange them in 2022, when Colombia held talks with each Saab and Dassault Aviation, though aiming at a smaller order.
The Gripen E/F
The Gripen E is a considerably modernized variant of Sweden’s indigenously produced Gripen fighter jet. Powered by the highly effective GE F414G engine – offering 20% extra thrust than the Gripen C’s RM12 engine, it’s also geared up with a brand-new AESA (Lively Electronically Scanned Array) radar, IRST (Infrared Search and Observe) system, and EW (Digital Warfare) programs.
With 10 hardpoints for carrying varied munitions, it’s virtually a wholly new platform, that includes a brand new avionics structure with data-fusion capabilities, a wide-area cockpit show, and open mission programs. Externally, the plane is way much like its predecessors, with the IRST in entrance of the cockpit and the wingtip rails being the principle differentiators.
As a part of the Gripen E/F collection, there’s additionally a challenge referred to as Gripen Maritime. This challenge is meant as a future carrier-based fighter for each STOBAR (Quick Take Off Barrier Arrested Touchdown) and CATOBAR (Catapult Assisted Take Off Barrier Arrested Touchdown) operations.
Thailand not too long ago turned the fourth nation to formally select the brand new Gripen variant, after Sweden, Brazil, and Colombia. In comparison with the unique Gripen, the E/F has had comparatively gradual gross sales, with 60 jets acquired by Sweden, 36 by Brazil, as much as 24 by Colombia and 12 by Thailand. Peru can also be in talks to accumulate the jet.
