Will redefine the aerial warfare landscape of Latin America, Colombia has inked a landmark €3.1 billion (US$3.36 billion / RM17.16 billion) contract with Swedish aerospace giant Saab for 17 Gripen E/F fighter jets. The acquisition—comprising 15 single-seat Gripen E aircraft and two dual-seat Gripen F variants—is the largest fighter purchase in Colombia’s history and marks a decisive step in the nation’s long-delayed air power modernization program.
Signed on November 14, 2025, the deal initiates a structured delivery schedule beginning in 2026 and concluding in 2032. The purchase will replace Colombia’s aging fleet of IAI Kfir jets, which have formed the backbone of the Colombian Aerospace Force (Fuerza Aérea Colombiana, FAC) for over 30 years.
Beyond its immediate operational impact, the Gripen deal represents a major strategic pivot—one with regional, industrial, and geopolitical significance. It not only diversifies Bogotá’s defense suppliers but also signals a deepening shift away from its historical reliance on U.S. and Israeli jet platforms, occurring amid strained relations with Israel following the 2024 Gaza conflict.
Founded in 1919, the FAC has traditionally balanced internal security missions, counter-narcotics operations, and air sovereignty enforcement. For decades, its principal combat aircraft has been the Israeli-made IAI Kfir, a Mirage 5–derived fighter upgraded to C-10 and C-12 standards. The fleet, however, has suffered from declining availability rates, rising maintenance costs, and obsolescence across avionics and airframe systems.
Today, roughly 21 Kfirs remain operational, supported by A-37 Dragonfly and EMB-314 Super Tucano aircraft more suited to counter-insurgency than air superiority missions. Attempts to modernize Colombia’s fighter capability—evaluating options such as the F-16, Dassault Rafale, and Eurofighter Typhoon—dragged on for more than a decade, repeatedly derailed by budgetary pressures and shifting political priorities.
By 2024, when Bogotá relaunched the tender, it placed new emphasis on technology transfer, industrial cooperation, and affordability. Saab’s Gripen E/F emerged as the most comprehensive solution, tailored for both Colombia’s operational needs and its broader economic and innovation agenda.
The competitive evaluation pitted Saab’s Gripen E/F against two formidable contenders: the Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70/72 and France’s Dassault Rafale. Each offered distinct operational strengths.
The F-16 Block 70/72 offered seamless compatibility with U.S. systems already integrated into the FAC and the global reliability of one of the world’s most widely operated fighter jets. The Rafale promised high-end multirole capabilities without the constraints of U.S. export controls—an attractive prospect for Colombia’s push for greater strategic autonomy.
But both options encountered obstacles. The Rafale’s acquisition and sustainment costs were reportedly 20–30 percent higher than the Gripen’s—untenable for a fiscally constrained defense budget. The F-16 initially faced diplomatic friction due to the U.S.-made GE F414 engine powering the Gripen. However, through negotiations, Washington affirmed Bogotá’s freedom to determine its own defense partnerships, neutralizing potential veto concerns.
Saab’s decisive edge lay in its industrial offset package. Colombia secured an extensive, multi-sector technology transfer arrangement spanning aerospace engineering, cybersecurity, green energy, water purification, and even public health. The agreement is expected to create thousands of high-skilled jobs, boosting Colombia’s domestic innovation capabilities—a central goal of the Petro administration.
In operational terms, the Gripen’s proven performance in hot-and-high environments—a vital requirement for the Andes—and its low lifecycle costs tipped the scales in Saab’s favor.
The Gripen E/F is widely recognized as one of the world’s most advanced 4.5-generation multirole fighters, incorporating fifth-generation–level capabilities in electronic warfare, sensor fusion, and networked operations.
Powered by the General Electric F414G turbofan, the jet produces 98 kN of thrust, enabling speeds exceeding Mach 2. Its expanded internal fuel capacity, up 40 percent from earlier variants, allows a combat radius of over 1,300 km—ideal for missions over Colombia’s vast mountains, jungles, and coastal waters.
On the sensor front, the Gripen’s Leonardo Raven ES-05 AESA radar, boasting a ±100° field of regard, enables simultaneous multi-target tracking. Complementing this is the Skyward-G IRST system, granting passive long-range detection—an advantage in counter-stealth operations. A sophisticated electronic warfare suite ensures full-spectrum detection, jamming, and survivability.
For firepower, the Gripen’s 10 hardpoints support a diverse arsenal:
MBDA Meteor beyond-visual-range missiles (200+ km range)
IRIS-T short-range air-to-air missiles
RBS-15 anti-ship cruise missiles
AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles
Precision-guided bombs
Internal 27mm Mauser BK-27 cannon
The jet’s rugged design allows short takeoff and landing (STOL), with rapid turnaround times—under 20 minutes with a five-person ground crew—crucial for dispersed basing across Colombia’s challenging terrain.
In direct comparison, the Gripen E offers a lower radar cross-section and stronger electronic warfare capabilities than the F-16, while maintaining a significantly lower acquisition and operating cost than the Rafale.
Colombia’s decision carries profound geopolitical implications. By selecting a European supplier at a moment of diplomatic strain with Israel and fluctuating defense ties with the United States, Bogotá signals a shift toward diversified partnerships and greater strategic autonomy.
Regionally, the Gripen strengthens Colombia’s deterrence posture against neighboring Venezuela, whose fleet of Russian-supplied Su-30MKV heavy fighters long outmatched Colombia’s aging Kfirs in both range and payload. Armed with Meteor missiles and backed by advanced sensors, the Gripen significantly narrows this gap, enhancing Colombia’s control over contested airspace and maritime zones in the Caribbean and Pacific.
The RBS-15 anti-ship missile further boosts Colombia’s maritime strike capability—an asset in countering illegal fishing, protecting offshore resources, and responding to sovereignty challenges in disputed waters.
The Gripen acquisition extends far beyond military capability. Saab’s offset package is among the most comprehensive Colombia has ever secured, integrating:
Local maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities
Technology transfers in cyber and AI
Cooperation in sustainable energy and water security
Training and education programs for Colombian universities
These components align closely with Colombia’s national development goals and could position the country as a regional MRO hub for future Gripen operators. With Brazil already operating the Gripen E, Colombia’s entry strengthens Saab’s footprint in South America and could influence procurement decisions in Peru, Ecuador, and potential future customers.
The 2026–2032 delivery timeline allows adequate space for:
Pilot and technician training
Infrastructure upgrades at FAC bases
Integration of new doctrine and C4ISR networks
Operational testing and weapon certification
Initial operational capability (IOC) is targeted for 2028, with full squadron readiness expected by 2030. Once fielded, the Gripen fleet will anchor Colombia’s aerial defense and strike capability for the next 30 years.
Colombia’s €3.1 billion deal for 17 Saab Gripen E/F fighters marks a watershed moment for Latin American defense modernization. More than a hardware acquisition, it reflects Bogotá’s ambition to secure advanced capabilities while catalyzing national technological development and recalibrating geopolitical alignments.
With the Gripen, Colombia is not merely upgrading its air force. It is redefining its strategic posture—prioritizing autonomy, cost-efficiency, and cutting-edge performance at a moment when regional tensions and domestic expectations demand nothing less.
As Latin America navigates a new era of military modernization, Colombia’s skies will soon be patrolled by an aircraft that symbolizes both its emerging priorities and its long-term strategic vision.
