Saab AB informed the Peruvian government that, unless it receives a formal invitation to submit its final proposal, based on the Gripen E/F fighter, in the competition for the Air Force’s new combat aircraft, it “will officially withdraw from the acquisition process.”
Through a letter delivered to Peru’s Ministry of Defense on April 10, the Swedish company granted two business days to learn the decision on the matter, a deadline that expires tomorrow, Wednesday, April 15.
Lars Tossman, Senior Vice President and Head of Saab Aeronautics, in a long, respectful, and detailed letter, reiterated his company’s ability to deliver 24 new Gripen E/F aircraft in accordance with the established technical requirements and within the approved budget.
He clarified that this includes an “ambitious offset program aimed at strengthening more than 1,800 Peruvian MSMEs and generating more than 8,000 jobs across all regions of Peru.” However, he also indicated that the validity of that proposal has expired, and that, so far, no request has been received to provide a new offer.
This detail casts doubt on the official version that Peru is still evaluating the three candidates, which include the Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70, the Dassault Aviation Rafale F4, and Saab’s Gripen E/F.
Tossman added that Peru had publicly stated that it carried out an extensive technical evaluation over more than a decade, which concluded in the first half of 2025 with the Operational Technical Report (ETO).
There, the Swedish fighter-bomber emerged as one of the three options best suited to the South American country, and in response Saab provided all the information required within the established deadlines, presenting “the best offer possible.”
Saab will respect and honor Peru’s decision, after a transparent process, to acquire any aircraft of its choosing. But it will not continue in a competition “that is intended to be decided among three competitors when, in reality, to date we have not been given the opportunity to submit a valid offer, such as a ‘Best and Final Offer (BAFO)’…”
This information comes to light in the context of the ongoing electoral process, which will determine the new President of the Republic who will take office on July 28, and who, for many, should be the one to make such an important decision.
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