Saab Would Build Gripen Fighters in Canada While Lockheed Martin Builds F-35s in Texas. Ottawa May Fund Both (

Saab would build Gripen fighters in Canada while Lockheed Martin builds F-35s in Texas, and Ottawa may fund both as Canada’s fighter competition expands beyond which jet to fly. The review that began with Canada’s F-35 purchase has grown into negotiations over roughly a 140-aircraft force and a split industrial model across two continents. The article says Ottawa is weighing an industrial strategy valued at C$500 billion over the coming decade, with a goal of increasing defense work performed in Canada. Lockheed Martin assembles Canada’s F-35s in Fort Worth and is tied to billions in supply-chain activity in Canada, while Saab is offering to assemble Gripen fighters in Canada with technology transfer. In March 2025, the process started as a review of a C$27.7 billion order for 88 F-35As, and officials now consider a mixed fleet including stealth F-35 tiers, Gripen Es for air defense, and Saab GlobalEye surveillance aircraft. On May 27, 2026, Canada entered negotiations with Saab for a GlobalEye fleet of six aircraft worth more than C$5 billion.