cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/5367018

The Swedish defence firm Saab is considering Canada as a place to assemble Gripen fighter jets as it moves to quickly ramp up production to meet demand from Ukraine.

Saab’s CEO Micael Johansson said in recent interviews with financial news publications that Kyiv’s interest in purchasing more than 100 Gripen fighter jets would double the defence company’s production requirements.

The Financial Times and the Reuters news agency reported Johansson said the company is searching for ways to expand production capacity, possibly in Canada or elsewhere in Europe.

On the sidelines of the Canadian Aerospace Summit in Ottawa, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly told The Canadian Press Wednesday this is “good news” and that she spoke with Johansson earlier in the day.

“I’ve been actively working with Saab to see what can be done to do more partnerships with Canada, and it starts with the GlobalEye [surveillance plane], but also we’re willing to see what we can do to help support Ukraine,” she said.

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