Saab has secured a SEK 2.9 billion contract from Sweden’s Defense Materiel Administration to continue conceptual development of the nation’s next-generation fighter system. The work runs 2026–2028 with options into 2029–2030 and funds demonstrators, advanced studies and concepts for crewed and uncrewed platforms. The programme focuses on systems integration, autonomy, signature adaptation, propulsion and digital development and is the third award under Sweden’s KFS effort following its 2023 exit from Team Tempest/GCAP.
Saab Wins SEK 2.9 Billion FMV Contract To Advance Sweden’s Next-Generation Fighter
A Saab JAS-39E Gripen performs at the Flight Days 2026 event in Malmen, Linkoping, Sweden, on Aug. 22, 2026. (Pradeep Dambarage/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Saab has been awarded a new contract worth approximately SEK 2.9 billion (about $303 million) by Sweden’s Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) to continue conceptual development of the country’s next flagship fighter system, the company said in a statement.
The contract covers work from 2026 through 2028, with options that could extend activity into 2029 and 2030. This award builds on prior KFS agreements signed in 2024 and a SEK 2.6 billion extension from October 2025 that covered 2025–2027.
Scope And Objectives
The programme funds a broad set of activities including flying and ground-based demonstrators, advanced technology studies and the development of system concepts for both crewed and uncrewed (autonomous) platforms. Saab says the work is intended to strengthen Sweden’s capabilities in systems integration, autonomy, signature adaptation, propulsion and digital development, while reducing technical risk and preserving "freedom of action" for future decisions on national air combat capability.
Lars Tossman, head of Saab’s Aeronautics business area, said FMV’s continued confidence in Saab is “crucial to further develop and demonstrate new technologies that will be central to future fighter system.”
Programme Context
The contract is the third tranche of awards tied to Sweden’s Koncept för Framtida Stridsflyg (KFS) programme—also known as Vägval stridsflyg—which is intended to shape Swedish air power beyond 2040. KFS was launched after Sweden withdrew from the British-led Team Tempest/GCAP collaboration in 2023 and opted for a domestically led development path.
Saab has previously outlined a family of potential platforms under its "F-series" concept: a crewed fighter plus subsonic and supersonic uncrewed variants across different weight classes and form factors. The earlier programme phase included plans for a flying demonstrator, with concept and technology work initially scheduled to conclude in late 2026 and first flight tests anticipated in 2027.
Why It Matters
The award supports Sweden’s effort to preserve sovereign design and integration capabilities for future combat aircraft, maintain industrial skills and mitigate technological risk before any final decisions on procurement or production are made. Saab remains Sweden’s sole manufacturer of fighter aircraft, with the Gripen family currently forming the backbone of the Swedish Air Force.
Financial Note: The SEK 2.9 billion figure is an approximate contract value; currency conversions to USD are indicative and may vary with exchange rates.
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