Colombia months away from selecting new fighter aircraft, says minister
Saab’s JAS 39 Gripen is one of the aircraft being considered by selection by Colombia. (Photo: Airwolfhound/Wikimedia Commons)
The country’s Defence Minister said that the selection of a NATO-country fighter aircraft to replace its ageing Kfir jets was a matter of protecting the country.
As first reported by Reuters, Colombia is “months” away from deciding from which NATO country it will purchase its new fighter jet, according to its Defence Minister, Pedro Sánchez.
In the mix for selection by Colombia to replace its ageing Israeli Kfir aircraft are the US’s Lockeed Martin F-16, France’s Dassault Rafale and Sweden’s Saab JAS 39 Gripen aircraft.
The minister reportedly refused to comment on the number of aircraft Colombia would buy, or the total cost of the deal, but claimed that the deal was an issue of “sovereignty”.
Related Articles
Colombian Air Force modernises but future of Kfirs remains unclear
In 2023 the Colombian government said it had a US$3.65 billion budget to buy 16 aircraft – although negotiations then stalled. Shephard Defence Insight estimated that the programme value cost would be around $1 billion.
According to a Swedish news source in November 2024, Saab’s JAS 39 Gripen aircraft had been selected to replace Colombia's Kfir aircraft. However, a Saab source disclosed to Shephard at the time that no such final decision had in fact taken place.
Minister Sánchez doubled down on his comments about Saab’s Gripen in a recent interview with Swedish radio station, Ekot. He denied that the United States had threatened to veto any Saab sale because of corruption, on account of the US-made General Electric engine in the fighter aircraft.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Singapore Airshow 2026: ST Engineering’s EagleStrike aims for 2027 early-stage production]()
Singapore Airshow 2026: ST Engineering’s EagleStrike aims for 2027 early-stage production
The new loitering munition from ST Engineering, unveiled at the Singapore Airshow for the first time, is intended for use against high-value targets such as lightly armoured vehicles.
-
![“Dramatic leaps in processing capability”: how GDMS–UK is evolving mission systems for the modern battlespace]()
“Dramatic leaps in processing capability”: how GDMS–UK is evolving mission systems for the modern battlespace
In Conversation... Shephard’s Gerrard Cowan talks to Sam Steggall, GDMS–UK’s Senior Director – Air and Naval UK, about the company’s extensive and proven in-country capability to deliver complex avionics solutions and its key role on major Royal Air Force and Royal Navy aircraft programmes.
-
![Spain air report: Demand builds with $19.7 billion up for grabs in unawarded contracts]()
Spain air report: Demand builds with $19.7 billion up for grabs in unawarded contracts
Despite Spain’s modest GDP spend on defence, the country still has a range of fixed-wing and UAV programme requirements as yet unawarded, with a potential US$3.10 billion set to be spent over the next decade.
