Peru set to abandon Saab Gripen bid and double F-16 order amid political shifts
March 26, 2026
After more political turbulence, it appears Peru is now set to abandon the Gripen bid and double the number of F-16s that it was previously considering purchasing. The US offer extends beyond the jets to include Major Non-NATO Ally status.
Peru may be set to order F-16s
AGN previously reported that Peru was likely to select the Saab Gripen to replace its ageing fleet of fighter jets. However, fighter jet purchases resemble marriage contracts between two countries, and these decisions are inextricably political.
Reuters reports, “Since 2018, Peru has cycled through a rapid succession of presidents… Last month, Congress ousted President Jose Jeri over a corruption scandal only four months into his term and just before elections scheduled for April 12.”
Last week, new Peruvian President José María Balcázar announced the selection of the F-16 Block during an interview on the program “Hablemos Claro,” although his comments were later mellowed somewhat. Even so, Saab continues to lobby for its Gripen fighter.
In September 2025, the US State Department approved the potential sale of F-16s to Peru in a deal estimated at around $3.42 billion. The War Zone reported at the time that Peru was planning to purchase 12 new-built F-16 Block 70 fighter jets.
Reporting suggests that Peru will increase the order to 24 F-16s.
The Peruvian news outlet, Expreso, reports the package will cost $7 billion and would “include key benefits such as the country’s designation as a Major Non-NATO Ally.” This will allow for preferential access to elite weaponry and financing.
The publication added that neither France nor Sweden can match the ecosystem of benefits that Washington is offering. France was also a contender with its Dassault Rafale.
Peru’s ageing air force
Until recently, Peru was one of the few Latin American countries to have frontline fighter jets in service. This has changed as Brazil’s Gripens entered service and Argentina started receiving its F-16s.
In its 2026 review of world air forces, FlightGlobal lists the Peruvian Air Force as having 20 Cessna A-37s, six MiG-29s, nine Mirage 2000s, and two Su-25s remaining in active service.
In its 2025 review, FlightGlobal estimated Peru had 20 Cessna A-37s, eight MiG-29s, 11 Mirage 2000s, and eight Su-25s in service.
Since Western-led sanctions on Russia in 2022, it has become increasingly difficult to service the MiG-29s and Su-25s. This is an issue also impacting Colombia’s ability to service its fleet of Mi-17 helicopters.
The Mirage 2000s are some of the first models built and were delivered in the mid-1980s. Like other countries, the 2017 CAATSA Act has largely cut Peru off from purchasing new Russian fighter jets.
Get the latest aerospace defence news here on AGN.
The Gripen vs F-16 South America battle
In South America, an underreported battle is playing out between the Saab Gripen and the Lockheed Martin F-16 over which will be the lower-end light/medium-weight fighter jet for the continent.
Argentina purchased 24 ex-Danish F-16s after many years of trying to find a replacement aircraft. The United Kingdom consistently vetoed its other options, like the Saab Gripen.
Brazil is now rolling out its first domestically assembled Gripen E and is working to further develop its aerospace sector. Embraer and Saab have built a deep relationship.
Even so, Brazil started flirting with purchasing used F-16s in 2024, although that was seen as more of a bargaining ploy against Saab over the next Gripen order.
Colombia, with its American-sceptic government, has selected the Gripen E, rejecting multiple US F-16 offers. A leading Colombian opposition presidential candidate asked the US to veto the Gripen purchase until after the elections.
Chile purchased F-16s years ago and is set to upgrade them. Venezuela operates F-16s, but these are from a very different geopolitical time in the 1980s.
Featured Image: DVIDS
