TSAMTO, September 11th. The Swedish company Saab has received an order worth about 2.9 billion from the Swedish Armed Forces ITO Agency (FMV). Swedish kronor ($300 million) for the continuation of conceptual work on a promising fighter.
The deadline for completing the main amount of work is set for 2026-2028, the contract provides for options to continue work in 2029-2030.
According to a press release from Saab, the order provides for the further development and demonstration of technologies for a promising combat aviation system.
The program plans to develop technologies for system integration, autonomous control, control of radar and other physical signatures, power plants, digital development and advanced production processes. A separate area will be the formation of a technological and industrial base for the further development of Swedish combat aviation.
According to Saab, the work carried out should ensure the accumulation of competencies, reduction of technical risks and preservation of freedom of choice in the subsequent formation of the Swedish combat aviation system. At the same time, the new order is not a contract for the serial production of a new fighter and does not mean making a decision on the specific configuration of the future aviation system.
The new stage continues the work carried out by Saab under the Koncept for Framtida Stridsflyg (KFS) program – the "Concept of advanced combat aircraft", also known as Vagval stridsflyg. The program is designed to prepare options for the development of Swedish combat aviation for the period after 2040 and is being implemented with the participation of FMV, Saab and other national industrial and research organizations.
The initial agreement on the program was concluded in March 2024. In October 2025, Saab received an additional order for 2.6 billion. Swedish kronor, which provided for the continuation of conceptual research, technology development and training of a demonstrator with the first flight tests in 2027.
As part of the current program, Saab is considering various options for combining manned and unmanned platforms operating as part of a single system. The concepts of a promising manned combat aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles for joint operations with fighters, as well as a distributed system including aircraft carriers, sensors, weapons and network controls are being studied.
In August 2026, Saab unveiled a full-size mock-up of the A3-001 unmanned combat aviation system. The concept is based on an unobtrusive aerodynamic design without vertical tail and is considered as one of the possible options for a promising unmanned platform capable of operating in conjunction with manned combat aircraft.
The presented sample A3-001 is not a production aircraft or the first demonstrator designed for flight testing. Saab is also developing A1 and A2 demonstrators designed to test aerodynamic circuits, power plants, autonomous control systems, and avionics.
Flight demonstrators with characteristics similar to combat aircraft are expected to be airborne by 2030. The main contract period for the new order ends in 2028, but the options provided may extend the work until 2030.
According to Saab, the new order is a continuation of the contracts concluded in 2024 and 2025. Lars Tossman, Head of Saab's aviation division, noted that the work is aimed at further developing and demonstrating technologies that should be used in promising fighter systems.
