The Swedish-made Gripen E reportedly outperformed competing offers from the Rafale and F-16 Block 70. The contract may be signed on 10 July during a visit to Lima by Sweden’s Defence Minister Pål Jonson, who will meet with his Peruvian counterpart Walter Astudillo.
The planned purchase is expected to launch a new chapter of Swedish-Peruvian defence cooperation. It aims to replace Peru’s current and outdated combat fleet, which includes Mirage 2000P, MiG-29, Su-25 and Cessna Dragonfly aircraft.
Perú21 reports that the deciding factor in selecting the Gripen was the economic offer and offset package. The situation mirrors Thailand’s recent decision, where Sweden’s proposal included technology transfer and support for local maintenance capabilities.
The $3.5 billion acquisition will be financed through a national bank loan. Peru is expected to allocate $2 billion in 2025 and the remaining $1.5 billion in 2026, with the debt to be repaid over 18 to 24 years by the national treasury.
If all current selections are finalised through contracts, Saab will have established a firm presence in South America. Brazil, Colombia and Peru will all operate the Gripen, while Argentina, which also showed strong interest, ultimately purchased ex-Danish F-16s after facing a British veto.
Other modern fighter aircraft on the continent include Chile’s F-16s and Venezuela’s Su-30s. The Gripen’s growing footprint highlights Sweden’s successful expansion into the Latin American defence market.
Source: Perú21.
