Lima, July 9 - In a significant development for Peru’s defense modernization, the Peruvian Air Force (FAP) has selected the Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripen E/F as the winner of a competitive tender to procure 24 multirole fighter jets, outpacing bids from the American Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 and the French Dassault Rafale F4. This $3.5 billion deal, announced in July 2025, marks a pivotal step in replacing Peru’s aging Mirage 2000P and MiG-29 aircraft fleet, which have served as the backbone of its air defense for decades. The decision underscores Peru’s strategic shift toward cost-effective, flexible platforms and signals a growing regional influence for Swedish defense technology in Latin America.
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The Gripen E/F, a 4.5-generation multirole fighter, emerged as the frontrunner due to a combination of factors that aligned with Peru’s operational and economic priorities. Priced between $70 million and $120 million per unit, the Gripen offered a significantly lower acquisition cost compared to the Rafale, estimated at up to $240 million per aircraft, and the F-16 Block 70, ranging from $75 million to $100 million. Beyond unit cost, Saab’s proposal included a delivery timeline of 24 months from contract signature, far shorter than the 60 months proposed by its competitors. This rapid delivery schedule aligns with Peru’s request to have at least two aircraft operational by July 23, 2026, for the FAP’s anniversary. Additionally, Saab’s offer emphasized favorable offset terms, including technology transfer and local industrial cooperation, which resonated with Peru’s goal of enhancing its domestic defense capabilities.
The Gripen E/F is equipped with advanced features suited to Peru’s diverse operational environments, from coastal regions to high-altitude Andean plateaus. Powered by a General Electric F414G engine, it delivers a top speed of Mach 2.0 and a combat radius of approximately 1,303 kilometers. Its Raven ES-05 AESA radar, electronic warfare suite, and compatibility with a wide array of munitions—including Meteor, IRIS-T, AIM-9X, AGM-65 Maverick, and Taurus KEPD 350—enable it to perform air superiority, ground attack, and reconnaissance missions. The aircraft’s short takeoff and landing capabilities, requiring just 500 meters for takeoff and 600 meters for landing, further enhance its versatility in Peru’s rugged terrain. Saab’s claim of low operational costs, with a cost-per-flight-hour of approximately $4,700 compared to the Rafale’s $16,500, was a critical factor in Peru’s decision, given the nation’s constrained 2025 defense budget of $2.371 billion.
The procurement will be financed through a $2 billion loan from Banco de la Nación in 2025, with an additional $1.5 billion allocated in 2026, to be repaid over 18 to 24 years. This financial commitment reflects Peru’s determination to modernize its air force, which currently operates 11 Mirage 2000P fighters, eight MiG-29s, eight Su-25 attack aircraft, and 20 Cessna A-37 Dragonfly light attack jets. The Gripen deal is expected to initiate a broader Swedish-Peruvian defense partnership, building on Saab’s previous collaboration with Peru’s SIMA shipyard for patrol boat production. The agreement is set to be formalized during a visit by Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson to Lima on July 10, 2025, where he will meet his Peruvian counterpart, Walter Astudillo, to finalize the intergovernmental contract. This selection positions Peru as the third Latin American nation to adopt the Gripen, following Brazil’s 36-unit order and Colombia’s potential acquisition of 16 to 24 aircraft. While the F-16 and Rafale offered proven combat records and NATO interoperability, their higher costs and longer delivery timelines proved less competitive. The Gripen’s success in Peru highlights Saab’s ability to tailor its offerings to budget-conscious nations, potentially reshaping the regional defense landscape and challenging traditional U.S. and French dominance in Latin American arms markets.