Sweden instructs Saab to carry out a preparatory study for the post-Gripen future
Saab has received an order from the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV), regarding the development of future fighter aircraft. The contract includes studies on future combat aircraft capacity.
As reported in the company’s press releaseThe study is of a preparatory nature and intends to expand the work on how future combat air capability can be developed and realized.
The value of the order is approximately SEK 250 million, approximately $ 25.5 million.
“I am very pleased that we have received this order, which enables the development of future capacity. This means that we can intensify our work to develop new concepts, technologies and other efforts required to achieve relevant operational capability that will prepare the future for Saab’s combat technologies, says Jonas Hjelm, Senior Vice President and Head of Saab’s Aeronautics business area.
Gripen’s replacement may be Tempest
– Advertisement –
As of 2019, Sweden (through Saab and GKN Aerospace Sweden) is part of the three-country team that, together with Italy and the United Kingdom, forms Team Tempest, which strives to develop the next generation of air combat capability.
The program studies new technologies that will be necessary to ensure air dominance in future conflicts, such as artificial intelligence, network combat, unmanned aerial vehicles, new sensors and stealth technologies, in addition to the sixth generation fighter aircraft itself, which should replace Italian and British Eurofighter and Swedish Gripen, starting 2035.
See also: Italy interested in participating in the Japanese FX program. What about Tempest?
Even though Sweden is today part of this development team, we have to wait for the results of the study to be carried out by Saab and by the Swedish Air Force itself to see if it will continue in the program as before.
One or two engines, a real doctrinal change for Sweden
The Swedish Air Force (Flygvapnet) has for decades used fighter aircraft specially designed to suit its special defensive doctrine.
They are relatively small, single-engine, easy-care aircraft that can be deployed under the difficult conditions on the tough country roads in the Swedish hinterland, in the middle of winter and far from the comfort of an air base. Gripen is the ultimate expression of this school of Swedish fighter design.
If Sweden ends up incorporating Tempest as it is now designed, and not a smaller aircraft developed by Saab but based on the technology obtained from this partnership, it would be the first time that the Swedish Air Force has a high-performance twin-engine fighter in its ranks.
It would be a turning point in the history of the Swedish Air Force and would signal the emergence of a significant doctrinal shift from an eminent defensive strategy to one based on the ability to penetrate to project power and armed deterrence.