Colombia has officially selected Swedish aerospace manufacturer Saab’s Gripen fighter jets to replace its aging fleet of Israeli-made Kfir aircraft, President Gustavo Petro announced on Apr. 2.
Photo: Colombia government
The decision follows months of evaluation of multiple options from Western countries and culminates a procurement process that has been underway for more than a decade.
“After signing a letter of intent with the government of the Kingdom of Sweden, and approving strategic air defense as a priority project, I can report: The fleet of aircraft to be acquired is completely new, latest technology, already implemented in Brazil, and they are the Saab 39 Gripen,” President Petro stated on social media.
Colombia’s relationship with the Kfir aircraft dates back to 1989, when the country acquired its first batch of 12 ex-Israeli Air Force Kfir C.2s and one TC.2 trainer as part of a trade agreement with Israel. Those aircraft were subsequently upgraded to the C.7 variant and have been extensively used in ground-attack missions during counter-insurgency operations.
In 2008, Colombia expanded its Kfir fleet by signing a deal with Israel for an additional 24 ex-Israeli Air Force aircraft. These jets were upgraded to C.10-C.12 standards with advanced avionics and weapons systems. The fleet received further upgrades in 2017, including the EL/M 2052 AESA radar and integration of modern air-to-air missiles.
Despite these upgrades, the aircraft have faced operational challenges. In 2009, one Kfir crashed near Cartagena during a refresher flight. More significantly, the fleet has been in service for over three decades, raising concerns about maintenance costs and operational safety.
The acquisition comes after Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez indicated in March that Colombia would decide “within months” which NATO country it would purchase fighter jets from. The government had reportedly allocated $3.65 billion in 2023 for the purchase of approximately 16 planes.
Colombia had been considering three main options: U.S.-made F-16s from Lockheed Martin, France’s Dassault Rafale, and Sweden’s Gripen. The final selection of the Swedish aircraft aligns with a similar choice made by Brazil in recent years.
Swedish Ambassador to Colombia Helena Storm emphasized the significance of the deal: “Sweden is a long-term partner of Colombia. Last year we celebrated 150 years of diplomatic relations. We are very committed in various sectors in Colombia and very committed also to the development of this agreement that will be signed in the coming months.”
The decision comes amid a changing landscape for Colombia’s defense procurement. In February 2024, President Petro announced that Colombia had suspended “all weapons purchases from Israel” following attacks in Gaza. The Israeli-made Kfir jets had been in service with the Colombian Air Force for over 30 years.
Beyond the aircraft acquisition, the agreement includes significant social investment commitments from Sweden. These include the installation of a factory for flexible solar panels in Córdoba, water supply systems for multiple locations in La Guajira, and the restoration and installation of advanced medical equipment at San Juan de Dios hospital in Bogotá.
The formal agreement between Colombia and Sweden is expected to be finalized in the coming months, with the letter of intent serving as the first step in the procurement process.
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