Image: from Saab X @Saab
By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies | Wednesday, March 4, 2026
STOCKHOLM – As the race to replace Portugal’s aging F-16 fleet intensifies, the Swedish defense group Saab has launched a strategic counter-offensive against American diplomatic pressure. In a bold bid to secure the multi-million euro contract, Stockholm is highlighting Portugal’s “vast potential” to become a key manufacturing player in the Gripen E fighter jet program.
The geopolitical tug-of-war reached a new peak following recent comments by the U.S. Ambassador to Portugal, who publicly advocated for the Lockheed Martin F-35. However, Saab is not backing down, positioning its 4.5-generation fighter as the “European alternative” that offers something Washington rarely grants: industrial sovereignty and local production.
The Alverca Connection
Speaking to Portuguese journalists in Stockholm, Daniel Boestad, Vice President of Business Development for the Gripen program, explicitly pointed to Alverca-based OGMA (Aeronautical Industry of Portugal) as a primary candidate for the aircraft’s production line.
“OGMA has a lot of potential,” Boestad stated, noting that the company is already Saab’s main subcontractor. He suggested that if Lisbon opts for the Gripen E, Portugal could integrate the global supply chain, manufacturing critical components of the aircraft—a model already successfully implemented in Brazil, which secured local production for its fleet of 36 jets.
More Than Just a Jet: A Technology Transfer
Saab’s pitch to the Portuguese Government and the Air Force (FAP) goes beyond the cockpit. The Swedish group is waving a package that includes total technology transfer, the creation of highly skilled jobs, and a central role in an expanding European defense industry.
Memorandums of understanding have already been signed with key Portuguese players, including OGMA, Critical Software, and the AED Cluster Portugal.
“It is up to Portugal to decide what it wants to buy,” Boestad remarked, addressing the American influence. “We believe the Gripen E is an excellent product for Portugal if they choose to move in that direction.”
The “European Choice” in a Trump Era
Amidst growing calls for European strategic autonomy, a sentiment echoed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Saab is leaning heavily into its continental roots. With the potential return of protectionist policies in the U.S., the Swedish firm argues that the Gripen E offers Portugal greater flexibility and speed in adapting to modern battlefield threats.
Furthermore, a strategic “triangular” synergy is emerging between Portugal, Sweden, and Brazil. Portugal recently acquired its sixth KC-390 Millennium from the Brazilian manufacturer Embraer, an aircraft certified to refuel the Gripen, and which already contains Portuguese-made parts from OGMA.
While the Portuguese Ministry of Defense has yet to officially launch a formal tender, the Swedish message is clear: Portugal has the talent and the infrastructure to be more than just a buyer, it can be a builder.