Colombia Gripen contract faces legal bid to freeze payments

A legal challenge has been filed before the Administrative Tribunal of Cundinamarca to suspend Colombia’s purchase of 17 Saab Gripen fighter jets. The lawsuit, filed by lawyer Guillermo Rodríguez Martínez, alleges violations of administrative morality and a lack of transparency regarding the financing of the deal.

The contract, valued at approximately €3.135 billion (roughly US$3.6 billion), was signed in November 2025 with deliveries scheduled between 2028 and 2032. The legal action seeks an immediate halt to the execution of the contract, including all disbursements, transfers, and authorizations for future budget commitments, until the state discloses the specific conditions of payment and cost-benefit studies.

The Colombian Aerospace Force (FAC) has partially denied requests for documentation, citing legal reservations related to national defense and security. While the FAC has confirmed the existence of fiscal endorsements and favorable concepts from the National Planning Department, it has not released the specific financial documents requested. No court ruling or admission of wrongdoing has been reported at this stage.