Saab appears to be expanding its production and support capacity for both the Gripen fighter family and the GlobalEye airborne‑surveillance platform. The company is adding senior product‑development leadership and securing a new flight‑control contract.
Public filings show a record backlog and large new orders, the rollout of Sweden’s first series‑produced GlobalEye, and a major flight‑control computer contract, all indicating a scaling effort around these key programmes.
Saab's Q3 results include a SEK 10.1 billion GlobalEye order to an undisclosed customer and management commentary that the company continues to invest in future capabilities and expand capacity.
Saab ended Q3 2026 with a record SEK 364.2 billion backlog, up 80% year over year, after booking SEK 65.8 billion in new orders including 16 Gripen E fighters for Ukraine, GlobalEye aircraft orders and systems for German Navy frigates.
Saab is hiring a Head of Product Development and Business Support in Linköping or Gothenburg to lead the AEW&C product portfolio, business development and operational excellence.
Saab rolled out Sweden's first series‑produced S 106 GlobalEye at the Linköping plant, with the first delivery to the Swedish defence planned for 2027.
FMV awarded Saab a SEK 1.3 billion contract to develop a new Gripen flight‑control computer for JAS 39C/D and JAS 39E/F, with delivery scheduled for 2030.
Saab appears to be scaling up its ground‑combat and precision‑fires manufacturing capability, adding senior production and product‑leadership roles in Sweden and advancing its Carl‑Gustaf operations in India.
Public signs include multiple hiring announcements for production leaders, area leads and engineers in Karlskoga and Linköping, the opening of a new factory in Jhajjar, Haryana, and statements about integrating Indian suppliers.
Saab is hiring a production leader for Missile Production in Karlskoga to establish structure, working methods and teams in a growing operation, with responsibility for assembly and testing, efficiency, standardization, quality assurance and delivery performance.
The Precision Fires role in Karlskoga is described as part of an area with several product lines and production operations, with responsibility for efficient and long‑term sustainable development.
A mid‑October Karlskoga hiring cluster includes roles across Ground Combat production quality, Precision Fires, electronics, mechanical design and production‑quality technology, reinforcing the breadth of the local Saab Dynamics scale‑up.
Saab Dynamics is hiring a Precision Fires area lead in Karlskoga to restart and further develop an established product, build future production capability and create new production solutions, working across production, engineering, quality, purchasing, logistics and business functions.
Saab Dynamics is hiring an experienced systems safety engineer in Linköping for advanced defence products, mainly missile systems, covering product‑safety risk identification, safety requirements, design analysis and verification planning under standards such as MIL‑STD 882E.
Saab's Jhajjar production facility opened on 27 September 2026, and Saab said it aims to integrate Indian suppliers into the global supply chain for Carl‑Gustaf M4.
Saab appears to be scaling up its submarine and underwater systems operations, adding new partnerships, product offerings and support capabilities. The move includes collaborations on sensing technology, development of autonomous underwater vehicles, and a focus on lifecycle support for torpedoes and underwater vehicles.
Public signs include a strategic collaboration with Optics11 on passive fibre‑optic sensing, the launch of a large uncrewed underwater vehicle demonstrator, multiple hires across underwater systems, and a contract for sonar supplies to Poland’s submarine programme.
Saab announced a strategic collaboration with Optics11 to combine Optics11's passive fibre‑optic sensing expertise with Saab's underwater systems, maritime security and surveillance experience, targeting underwater situational awareness and protection of subsea cables, energy infrastructure, ports and maritime operations.
Saab, FMV and the Swedish Armed Forces launched a Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle demonstrator after successful sea trials, with the next phase focused on more advanced capabilities, software, sensors and autonomous functions.
Saab is hiring an area manager for Sea Mines and Depth Charges within Underwater Systems, with full responsibility for development, delivery, competence and lifecycle activities covering studies, development, production, training, operational support and decommissioning.
Saab is hiring an ILS/IPS engineer for Underwater Systems in Linköping, focused on torpedo systems and underwater vehicles, including maintenance preparation, FMECA, reliability analysis, technical documentation and lifecycle logistics support.
Cohort’s German subsidiary ELAC secured a €140.7 million contract from Saab to supply integrated sonar systems for Poland’s Orka submarine programme, with work starting immediately and deliveries continuing into the mid‑2030s.
Saab appears to be expanding its work on autonomous combat‑air systems and loyal‑wingman concepts, including the development of uncrewed aircraft that could operate alongside crewed platforms.
Public indications include a SEK 2.9 billion award from Sweden’s FMV for future fighter concept work, reports of advanced construction of two government‑funded uncrewed demonstrators, and a public showcase of the full‑scale A3‑001 uncrewed concept. Additional reporting notes that the collaborative combat aircraft programme has a funded demonstrator sequence leading to a decision by 2028, and that the work is framed as continued studies rather than a committed acquisition.
Reporting on the FMV award frames the work as continued studies rather than a committed acquisition programme, noting that Sweden has not yet decided what will succeed Gripen and that post‑2040 options remain open.
Saab received a SEK 2.9 billion FMV order for continued future fighter concept work, including flying and ground‑based demonstrators, advanced studies, and future system concepts for both manned and unmanned systems.
Sweden's FMV awarded Saab an additional SEK 2.9 billion to develop and demonstrate technologies for Sweden's future combat‑air system from 2026 to 2028, including flying and ground demonstrators, crewed and uncrewed aircraft concepts, autonomy, propulsion, signature management, digital development and future production methods.
Saab showcased a full‑scale A3‑001 concept for a future uncrewed combat air system, framing it as a platform that could complement Gripen and future crewed aircraft in missions including electronic warfare, suppression of enemy air defences and precision strike.
Saab is reportedly in advanced construction of two government‑funded uncrewed flying demonstrators for Sweden’s combat‑air path‑selection programme, with the first intended to fly within 15 months.
Sweden’s collaborative combat aircraft programme has a funded demonstrator sequence, with A1 and A2 planned before 2030 and intended to support a Swedish future‑combat‑air decision by 2028.
Saab appears to be bolstering its involvement in EU and allied defence programmes, particularly around airborne surveillance, command‑and‑control and unmanned combat systems.
Public announcements cite contributions to the D‑STORM initiative, a search for a UK air‑domain business development lead, and multiple non‑binding GlobalEye agreements with Canada and the Netherlands.
Saab announced its contribution to D‑STORM, a European Defence Fund initiative providing expertise in operational concepts, system requirements, AI‑enabled autonomy, systems integration, testing and industrialisation for next‑generation unmanned combat systems.
Saab UK is hiring a Head of Business Development and Sales for the Air domain in London to lead customer engagement, pursue UK business leads, manage RAF and occasional RN air requirements, and participate in Saab's Winning Business process.
Canada announced a preliminary agreement with Saab for six GlobalEye detection aircraft, describing the arrangement as a basis for final negotiations rather than a completed purchase contract.
Sweden and the Netherlands described the GlobalEye letter of intent as long‑term cooperation, with delivery of the Dutch aircraft planned for 2031 and Dutch crews expected to train on Swedish GlobalEye systems from 2028.
The Netherlands agreed to purchase a Saab GlobalEye airborne surveillance and command‑and‑control aircraft, but Saab said it had not yet received a formal order and was awaiting the next procurement steps.
Saab appears to be expanding its local operating presence in Germany, with Bremen emerging as a technical and support hub for the expanded F128 frigate programme. The company is adding specialised engineering roles and a technical authority, and is preparing to deliver combat systems, radars, sensors and composite structures for German frigates.
Public signals include recent German approvals for additional MEKO A‑200 DEU frigates and an SEK 8.7 billion contract with TKMS for system integration and construction work largely based in Germany, all of which increase the potential delivery base for Saab’s naval systems.
The German parliamentary budget committee approved four additional MEKO A‑200 DEU frigates, doubling the planned F128 fleet to eight ships.
Saab is hiring a Technical Authority in Bremen for navigation and communication integration, technical solution approval and customer acceptance support.
Saab announced a SEK 8.7 billion contract with TKMS to deliver and integrate combat systems, Sea Giraffe radars, passive sensors and composite structures for four German Navy MEKO A‑200 DEU frigates, with deliveries planned from 2029 to 2032.
Reporting noted that most of the work on the TKMS/Saab frigate contract will be carried out in Germany, indicating Saab’s German footprint will be used for delivery execution.
Paldo wrote this page from the public sources linked above. What a company appears to intend is our reading and may be wrong. If something is out of date, tell us.
