The Swedish defense company Saab states that if Ottawa decides to purchase its Gripen E fighter jets, Canada could eventually build some of the aircraft destined for the Ukrainian Air Force, The Canadian Press reports, according to UNN.
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Saab states that up to 20 of its Gripen fighters will be built for Ukraine under a European Union credit support agreement, while Sweden will transfer 16 older model Gripens.
Saab Deputy CEO Anders Carp told The Canadian Press that Canada could become a site for production and export, and could also supply Gripens to Ukraine if the federal government decides to invest in the product itself.
"It was discussed, for example, it was offered to Canada that if they choose the Gripen and want production in Canada, this could be one of the locations for sending Gripens to Ukraine," he said.
The manufacturing of a Gripen can take approximately 36 months.