Saab has signaled a push to deepen industrial cooperation with Portugal by exploring local production of parts for its Gripen fighter should Lisbon decide to replace its F‑16 fleet.
The company said that OGMA, a Portuguese aerospace firm controlled by Brazil’s Embraer, has “a lot of potential” to produce components for the Gripen, according to a report by SAPO.
This move could keep investment and jobs within Portugal if the country selects Saab’s aircraft in an upcoming fighter competition.
Saab’s Gripen E/F has competed against offerings from Lockheed Martin and the Eurofighter consortium to meet the Portuguese Air Force’s requirement, though no formal acquisition process has been launched.
Daniel Boestad, vice president of Saab’s Gripen business, said that Saab “will be there” when Lisbon opens the process, and emphasized how local industrial involvement — similar to Saab’s partnership with Embraer in Brazil starting in 2014 — could benefit the Portuguese defense sector.
How Saab Partners With Domestic Companies
Saab has steadily strengthened collaborations with local companies and institutions to produce critical defense systems in multiple countries.
In February 2024, Saab partnered with The Abbey Group in the UK to manufacture components for the Barracuda Mobile Camouflage System, supporting British Army vehicles.
Meanwhile, in March 2025, Saab signed a memorandum of understanding with Radionix, a Ukrainian defense firm, to co-develop sensors and electronics aimed at enhancing Ukraine’s defense production.
By September 2025, Saab partnered with Polish technology firm WB Group to explore cooperation in unmanned aerial systems, naval solutions, and border protection systems, expanding Saab’s engagement with a dynamic regional defense technology company.
