LONDON—A decision point remains several years away for the Swedish Air Force’s acquisition strategy for a next generation fighter, the commander of the Swedish Air Force told Aviation Week on July 13.
Although advanced studies have been started by government and industry teams, the Air Force has no need in the near-term to decide whether to buy or join a foreign program, develop a new Swedish fighter or continue buying more JAS-39E Gripens from Saab, Maj. Gen. Jonas Wikman said on the sidelines of the Global Air & Space Chiefs’ Conference here.
The JAS-39E is not yet fully operational within the Swedish Air Force, Wikman said, emphasizing that there is no rush to start development on a new aircraft yet.
In June 2022, Sweden’s defense materiel agency FMV awarded a contract to Saab to begin studies on the next generation of combat aircraft. The ongoing studies are focused on defining options for how to buy a future aircraft, Wikman said. The studies do not include design work for such a new fighter.
Saab formally joined the international industry team in 2019 for the UK-led Tempest program. But Saab reduced its role last year to a “sort of hibernation” status, CEO Mikael Johansson said last August. The company’s future in the program will be clarified as roles are defined in a new international development partnership that includes the UK, Japan and Italy.
Meanwhile, the Swedish Air Force is preparing for possible NATO membership, Wikman said. Turkey and Hungary have dropped their objections to Sweden’s accession to the transatlantic alliance, but membership remains on hold pending ratification by their national legislatures.
If membership is finalized, the Swedish Air Force will have to find 250 service members to assign to NATO roles, Wikman said. The number represents nearly 10% of the service’s active duty force structure.
