Saab is seeking to deepen industrial cooperation with Portugal by exploring the possibility of producing components for its Gripen fighter aircraft locally if Lisbon proceeds with plans to replace its aging F-16 fleet. The Swedish defense manufacturer indicated that OGMA, a Portuguese aerospace company owned by Brazil’s Embraer, could potentially manufacture parts for the Gripen platform should Portugal choose the aircraft in a future procurement program. Such an arrangement would allow Portugal to retain part of the economic value of the program through local investment, technology transfer, and job creation. Saab’s Gripen E/F fighter is considered a potential contender for Portugal’s next-generation combat aircraft requirement and would likely compete against platforms offered by Lockheed Martin and the Eurofighter consortium. Although the Portuguese government has not yet launched a formal acquisition process, Saab representatives have expressed readiness to participate once the program begins. Daniel Boestad, vice president of Saab’s Gripen business, emphasized that the company intends to be actively involved when Lisbon opens the competition and highlighted the advantages of domestic industrial participation. Saab’s proposal reflects its broader strategy of partnering with national industries in countries that procure its defense systems. A notable example is the collaboration between Saab and Embraer in Brazil, which began in 2014 and led to joint development and production of the Gripen fighter for the Brazilian Air Force. The company has also expanded partnerships in other regions. In 2024, Saab worked with the UK-based Abbey Group to produce components for the Barracuda Mobile Camouflage System used by the British Army. Later collaborations included agreements with Ukrainian firm Radionix for sensor development and with Poland’s WB Group for potential projects involving unmanned systems, naval technologies, and border protection solutions.
