Colombia confirms Gripen E/F buy, final negotiations still underway
The JAS 39 Gripen E/F is currently operated by the Brazilian and Swedish Air Forces. (Photo: Saab)
The country was reportedly “months” away from an official aircraft selection, as of mid-March 2025.
Colombia’s President has announced its selection of the JAS 39 E/F Gripen aircraft to replace its ageing Israeli Kfir fighter fleet.
Shared via a post on X, President Gustavo Petro disclosed that following a letter of intent signed by Sweden, Colombia would acquire the Jas 39 Gripen.
While the number of aircraft to be acquired was not disclosed, Colombia has been discussing a replacement for its Kfir aircraft since 2018. The aircraft in the running were Lockheed Martin’s F-16, Dassault’s Rafale and Saab’s JAS 39 Gripen. From 2023, Colombia allocated around US$3.6 billion in its budget for the acquisition
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