Aircraft

Gripen International has identified several opportunities to sell the Saab Gripen multirole fighter into Latin America over the next five to 10 years.

The company continues to monitor Brazil’s stalled F-X fighter requirement, and is also targeting a potential project to replace Chile’s Northrop F-5s and Mirage 5 Elkan and Mirage 50 Pantera strike aircraft. However, Santiago could instead opt for a future fleet comprising only new and used Lockheed Martin F-16s.

Paul Boxwell, Gripen vice-president for sales and marketing, says the bulk of the region’s air forces operate ageing fleets, and that the Gripen’s low life-cycle costs and bare-base capabilities could be key future selling points.

Argentina received follow-on briefings on the Gripen’s capabilities during the FIDAE air show in Santiago in late March. Ecuador’s need to replace its air force Sepecat Jaguars is also seen as promising, but Boxwell says Venezuela’s current political differences with the USA must be resolved for any prospect of business in that country.