Saab Receives FMV Contract for Continued Future Fighter Concept Studies

Saab has received a new order from Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to continue its studies on future fighter concepts, supporting national efforts to define next-generation air combat capabilities. The contract extends through 2025 and builds on prior work exploring both manned and unmanned combat air system architectures.

Advancing System-of-Systems Concepts

Under the agreement, Saab will further develop concept studies using a system-of-systems approach, evaluating how future manned aircraft, autonomous platforms, and enabling technologies can operate together within integrated mission networks. The studies will also address technology maturation, potential demonstrator programs, and operational concepts designed to meet future air defense requirements.

The work will be carried out in close cooperation with FMV, the Swedish Armed Forces, the Swedish Defence Research Agency, and key partners across Sweden’s aerospace industry and research community. Saab notes that its experience with Gripen E and the GlobalEye airborne surveillance system provides a strong foundation for this next phase of conceptual development.

Relevance to the Broader Aerospace Community

For aerospace stakeholders, Saab’s continued engagement in future fighter studies underscores a global shift toward flexible and modular combat air systems capable of integrating advanced sensors, AI-enabled decision support, and collaborative autonomy. The emphasis on interoperability, adaptability, and distributed operations mirrors similar efforts underway in Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Saab’s involvement positions Sweden to maintain strategic independence in airpower design while keeping options open for future collaboration with international partners. The program also reinforces national investment in key aerospace technologies with applications extending beyond defense aviation.

Strategic Outlook

Headquartered in Linköping, Saab remains a central player in Sweden’s aerospace and defense innovation ecosystem. The continuation of concept studies strengthens its role in shaping future air combat solutions and aligns with long-term defense modernization objectives.

As the industry moves toward increasingly networked and autonomous combat systems, Saab’s work with FMV highlights how established aerospace manufacturers are evolving to define the architecture of future air dominance.