Saab shows interest in Portugal's OGMA to produce Gripen fighter parts.

Saab confirmed that Portugal could participate in the Gripen fighter production chain through OGMA if the jet is selected to replace the Portuguese Air Force F-16 fleet.

Saab confirmed that Portugal could participate in the Gripen fighter production chain through the aerospace company OGMA if the Swedish jet is selected to replace the Portuguese Air Force F-16 fleet. The proposal would integrate Portuguese industry into the multinational manufacturing network already linking Sweden and Brazil. Portugal's future fighter acquisition, which seems to remain focused on the F-35A for now, could involve about 27 to 28 aircraft.
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Saab has initiated a broader effort to increase production capacity for the Gripen E and F in response to growing international demand, currently targeting an assembly rate of up to 36 aircraft per year, with potential expansion beyond that level depending on future orders. (Picture source: Swedish Air Force)

On March 5, 2026, Daniel Boestad, Vice President and Head of the Gripen Business Unit at Saab, confirmed in an interview with SAPO that it sees industrial potential in Portugal for the production of parts of the JAS 39 Gripen fighter if the aircraft is selected to replace the Portuguese Air Force’s F-16 fleet. The Swedish company indicated that OGMA, the Portuguese aerospace maintenance and manufacturing firm controlled by Embraer, could participate in the manufacturing chain after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two companies. Saab is competing in Portugal against Lockheed Martin’s F-35 and the Eurofighter Typhoon consortium for the future fighter acquisition.

Company officials indicated that a model similar to the industrial cooperation implemented in Brazil could be applied, allowing part of the program’s industrial activity and investment to take place in Portugal. The Portuguese procurement process for new fighters has not formally started, but Saab confirmed it intends to participate once it begins. The company already supplies various defense products to Portugal and has signaled willingness to integrate Portuguese industry into the Gripen industrial ecosystem if Lisbon selects the aircraft. The Swedish manufacturer’s proposal centers on the potential role of OGMA in the Gripen production chain, which could involve manufacturing of aerostructures, assembly work, or other industrial activities tied to the aircraft.

OGMA is located in Alverca and has experience in aircraft maintenance, structural manufacturing, and aerospace support for several military and civilian aircraft programs. Saab indicated that OGMA possesses significant industrial capabilities that could support the production of Gripen components in Portugal. The relationship between OGMA and Embraer is relevant because the Brazilian aerospace company is Saab’s main partner in the Brazilian Gripen program. That partnership already includes local assembly and manufacturing activities for the Gripen E in Brazil. A similar model in Portugal could link OGMA to the same global production chain already operating between Sweden and Brazil.

Such cooperation would enable Portuguese industrial participation beyond maintenance and support functions if the Gripen acquisition proceeds. Portugal’s fighter force currently relies on F-16AM and F-16BM aircraft that entered service decades ago and have undergone upgrades, but are approaching the end of their service life. These aircraft perform air policing, NATO air defense tasks, and expeditionary operations, including deployments within NATO missions. The Portuguese Air Force has therefore initiated a long-term process to determine a successor aircraft capable of replacing the F-16 fleet. The replacement requirement has been estimated at 27 to 28 aircraft, with the transition expected to extend over several years due to the training, infrastructure, and financial commitments involved. Fighter replacement is one of the most significant modernization efforts planned for the Portuguese Armed Forces.

The decision will affect operational capabilities, NATO integration, and long-term defense spending. Lisbon has not yet announced a final timeline for the launch of the competition that will determine the next fighter aircraft. Portugal previously planned to acquire the F-35A as the replacement for its F-16 fleet under the Air Force 5.3 modernization program introduced in November 2023. In April 2024, the Chief of Staff of the Portuguese Air Force confirmed that the F-35A had been selected as the intended replacement, with preparations for pilot training and technical support arrangements involving the United States Air Force and Lockheed Martin. That plan changed when Defense Minister Nuno Melo announced on March 13, 2025, that Portugal would no longer actively pursue the acquisition of the F-35 in the near term and that European jets should be prioritized.

Lisbon subsequently began examining European alternatives to the F-35, including the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Dassault Rafale, and the Saab Gripen. However, this announcement did not constitute a definitive cancellation of the F-35, as Major-General João Nogueira, representing the Portuguese Air Force, clarified that the F-35 remained a possible candidate for the future fighter program. On April 22, 2025, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro also indicated that no final decision had been made regarding the future fighter aircraft, leaving the procurement process open. The Gripen program relies on a multinational manufacturing structure centered on Saab’s primary facility in Linköping, Sweden, where aircraft design, integration, and final assembly activities are conducted. The industrial network expanded significantly after Brazil selected the Gripen E fighter and established local production capabilities with Embraer.

Final assembly for Brazilian aircraft takes place in Gavião Peixoto, while Saab operates an aerostructures factory in São Bernardo do Campo that produces components such as forward fuselages, rear fuselages, tail cones, and air brakes. These structures are manufactured using aluminum, titanium, and composite materials and can be delivered either to the Brazilian assembly line or to Sweden, depending on production requirements. The rear fuselage section produced in Brazil measures about 1.90 meters in width, 1.20 meters in height, and 2.50 meters in length, and contains more than 750 parts. Brazil’s industrial participation demonstrates Saab’s approach of distributing manufacturing tasks among partner countries participating in the Gripen program.

Saab has initiated a broader effort to increase production capacity for the Gripen E and F variants in response to growing international demand. The company currently targets an assembly rate of up to 36 aircraft per year, with potential expansion beyond that level depending on future orders. Existing customers and contracts include Sweden, Brazil, Thailand, and Colombia, which together provide a production baseline for the program. Saab also remains active in several fighter competitions involving countries such as Portugal, the Philippines, Peru, and Canada. The Brazilian production line is expected to deliver its first locally assembled aircraft to the Brazilian Air Force during 2026. A significant portion of future manufacturing capacity is expected to be located outside Sweden as Saab continues to develop partnerships with foreign aerospace industries to support export customers and expand industrial participation.

Several countries examining the Gripen have been offered industrial cooperation involving local manufacturing or assembly facilities. Canada has been presented with the possibility of establishing a domestic production line linked to a potential fighter acquisition program. Such a facility could assemble aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force and potentially produce aircraft for export customers as well. Saab has already indicated that a Canadian facility would follow the industrial model implemented in Brazil with Embraer. Ukraine has also examined the possibility of localizing Gripen production as part of a long-term aviation modernization effort. Ukrainian plans envisage manufacturing activities beginning in 2033 and including both aircraft assembly and component production within Ukrainian aerospace companies.

The Gripen supply chain includes a wide network of international industrial partners responsible for major subsystems and components. The Gripen E is powered by the General Electric F414G turbofan engine, which provides higher thrust than the earlier F404 used in previous Gripen variants. Avionics and sensor equipment involve contributions from several European suppliers, including companies in the United Kingdom responsible for radar, sensors, and electronic systems. Landing gear components are supplied by Safran, while additional equipment and structural elements are produced by various specialized aerospace manufacturers. Saab’s maintenance concept relies on modular components known as line replaceable units, which allow rapid replacement and reduced maintenance time. If Portugal joins the program through OGMA, its industry could contribute to this supply chain by manufacturing components, supporting assembly operations, or participating in long-term maintenance and upgrade activities within the multinational Gripen production system.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.