Despite the recent agreement reached with Israel Aerospace Industries for the maintenance of its Kfir fighters, the Colombian Aerospace Force has only gained time to advance in the selection and acquisition of a new multirole fighter to replace the “lion cubs”. However, the process has been plagued by setbacks, with the leading candidates as of today being proposals based on the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the JAS-39 Gripen E from the Swedish company Saab.
The latest episode featured representatives of the Swedish firm, who stepped forward to deny accusations made by media outlets earlier today, January 25.
According to reports from these outlets, it was strongly suggested that the U.S. government, seeking to promote its offer of F-16 fighters to Colombia, would veto licenses for the use of the General Electric F414G engines that power the Saab Gripen E, as well as potentially other systems used by the combat aircraft.
Additionally, it was mentioned that the United States aims to hold a meeting with Colombia’s new Minister of Defense to discuss the strengths of the F-16 over other contenders and to emphasize increased interoperability between the armed forces of both countries.
Hours after the news circulated, Richard Smith, Deputy Head of Marketing and Sales for Gripen at Saab AB, addressed the matter on the social media platform X, refuting the claims made by the aforementioned media. Regarding this, the Swedish firm’s representative stated: “I don’t usually comment on these types of publications; however, this article and the information in it are neither accurate nor truthful. It is misleading the reader. All relevant licenses and permits are in order. The Gripen E, along with its logistics and industrial package, is the perfect option for Colombia.”
However, despite the statements made by the Saab executive, the Swedish company has yet to issue an official statement clarifying its position on the claims made by the media today.
Beyond this latest development and its ensuing repercussions, the core issue remains: the long-overdue replacement of Colombia’s Kfir fighters. The Colombian Aerospace Force must prevent a scenario in which the aircraft are retired without a confirmed replacement and while the process of incorporating a new combat platform is still ongoing. The only consistent message has been the Colombian political leadership’s stated intention to complete this acquisition—though, so far, their words have not been matched by concrete action.
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