Saab has been awarded a contract to continue concept study work on future fighter technology for Sweden, extending an activity which commenced in March 2024.

Announced on 14 October and placed by Stockholm’s Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), the follow-on award is valued at almost SKr2.7 billion ($282 million).

To run through 2027, it will cover “conceptual studies of manned and unmanned solutions in a system of systems perspective, and technology development and demonstrators”, Saab says.

“This order sets the next step on our joint journey in delivering innovative solutions to meet future operational needs of the Swedish armed forces and other customers,” says Lars Tossman, head of Saab Aeronautics.

It “includes continued work within the Future Fighter Aircraft System (KFS) concept programme, which is being conducted in collaboration between FMV, Saab and GKN Aerospace”, the Swedish procurement body says.

“The concept work and technology development will run until the third quarter of 2026, while the demonstrator work will continue until 2027 and include first flights,” the FMV says. This “is an important part of developing and verifying technology that can form the basis for future decisions on Swedish fighter air capability”, it adds.

“Given the long development cycles in the fighter aviation area, it is important that we already now build knowledge, test technology and prepare for future choices,” says Carl-Fredrik Edstrom, the FMV’s head of aerospace materiel.

Through the KFS activity, Stockholm is assessing its requirements for operations in the post-2040 period.

Earlier this month, the FMV also announced an approximately SKr4 billion deal with Saab to cover its provision of support and maintenance services for the Gripen fighter in 2026 and 2027. The contract also contains options to extend the arrangement until 2029.

Meanwhile, the Swedish air force will in late October field its first operational examples of the Gripen E, under an order for 60 of the single-seat type. The new model will enter service at Satenas air base.

Stockholm’s current fighter inventory totals almost 100 earlier-generation Gripen C/Ds.