The acquisition of the Gripen aircraft continues to generate strong questions in the country, especially after a control body asked the Government to detail all the technical, legal and economic supports that supported the choice of these Swedish aircraft over other evaluated alternatives, such as the French models or the American F-16. The request includes attaching documents, comparisons and analyzes that explain why the fleet manufactured by Saab was chosen.

The debate intensified after President Gustavo Petro announced from Cali that the agreement with Sweden was already closed and that Colombia will acquire 17 combat aircraft. However, as with other multimillion-dollar purchases, the decision came with doubts about the transparency of the process and the information provided to the public.

One of the loudest complaints came from Congresswoman Carolina Arbeláez, who questioned that Petro had recently disclosed details of the contract that had previously been denied under the argument of “reservation.”

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The congresswoman insisted that, if the president was able to publicly reveal this data, the Ministry of Defense is obliged to officially deliver it. For her, the country requires clarity to dispel suspicions of possible cost overruns.

The president, for his part, stated that the total value of the purchase amounts to $16.5 billion pesos due to future validity until 2032 and macroeconomic factors, including the behavior of the euro.

He also defended that the planes do not come “bare”, but rather equipped with their maximum capabilities: advanced simulators with four cockpits, weapons packages, sensor integration, specialized tools, maintenance and training benches for pilots and technical personnel.

Despite the clarifications, the controversy continues to grow. While control organizations ask for documentary rigor, political sectors insist that the lack of timely information has fueled suspicions.

The Government, on the other hand, maintains that it is a strategic investment to modernize the country’s air defense.

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