Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Wednesday that his government would not purchase early-warning-radar planes from the United States, opting instead for a European model.
Canada will purchase Swedish Saab’s GlobalEye, which is based on the Canadian-manufactured Bombardier Global 6500 jet.
Tensions between the US and Canada have been high since Donald Trump launched a trade war against the US’ northern neighbor and even suggested that Canada should become the 51st US state, which caused widespread outrage in Canada, just as Carney was seeking the post of prime minister and succeeded in getting elected to it.
Since then, the Canadian government has also opted ot review the planned purchase of US F-35 fighter jets to explore other options.
I think you don’t understand the Gripen. Seeing an airplane on radar doesn’t mean that airplane is useless.
Gripens cost 1/10 of the cost to run per flight hour than an F-35, and have all the same capabilities, aside from its radar cross section. For drone defense and stand-off munitions, the Gripen is a better weapon.
Russia never gained air superiority over Ukraine. Even with air superiority, the US military cannot destroy all of Iran’s weapons. Hundreds of gripens hiding in the high north is a nightmare for any would-be Canada invader.