Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson said Saab is set to present an appealing offer for Peru to acquire its modern fighter fleet. The official disclosed the plan in an interview with Breaking Defense following a meeting with a delegation led by his Peruvian counterpart, Walter Astudillo.
Astudillo and his team are travelling in Europe to conduct final evaluations and review updated proposals from regional defense aircraft manufacturers. Their stop in Sweden focuses on assessing the capabilities of Saab’s Gripen E/F fighter jets.
According to the manufacturer, the Gripen has adaptable technical solutions to ensure battlespace dominance. The E series features advanced electronic warfare capabilities with spherical coverage and the latest AESA technology. The fighter jet is powered by a GE F414G engine and includes an infrared search and track system.
Jonson stated that discussions with the Peruvian delegation also involved the possibility of Lima acquiring Saab’s GlobalEye airborne early warning and control platform.
Following their visit to Stockholm, the group will head to Paris to evaluate Dassault’s Rafale F4 aircraft.
Currently, the Peruvian Air Force’s fleet includes Dassault Mirage 2000 fighter jets purchased in the 1980s and Russian-made Sukhoi Su-25s acquired secondhand from Belarus.
Talks about a possible sale of the Gripen to Lima come after Saab recently finalized a $500 million deal to deliver three Gripen E and one Gripen F aircraft, related equipment and support services to the Royal Thai Air Force.