Saab showcases Swedish KFS future combat aircraft concept

The unmanned A3-001 is one of at least six future combat aircraft concepts that Saab is developing under Sweden;s KFS effort. (Saab)

Saab has showcased one of the concepts it is developing for Sweden's Future Combat Aircraft Concept (Konceptet Framtidens Stridsflyg: KFS) effort.

Revealed as a full-scale mockup at the Jubilee Air Show at Malmen Air Base in Linköping, Sweden, on 22 August 2026, the unmanned A3-001 is one of at least six conceptual KFS designs that the company is known to be working on for the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (Försvarets materielverk: FMV).

“The uncrewed [A3-001] platform … could complement Gripen and future crewed combat air capabilities. The concept is envisioned for high-risk missions, such as electronic warfare, suppression of enemy air defences, and precision strike operations in highly contested environments. With low observability, a high degree of autonomy, and the ability to operate across multiple domains, the concept illustrates a potential component of a future combat air capability,” Saab said.

The company said it is now in an intensive development phase where, together with the FMV, is exploring technologies that will lay the foundation for the next generation of combat air systems. “As part of this work, we intend to fly uncrewed demonstrators with fighter-like characteristics before 2030 as we support Sweden in considering [its] future options,” Peter Nilsson, head of Advanced Programs at Saab said, adding, “This separate Saab A3 system is our own concept for what could follow in the mid-2030s should Sweden decide to build on the work we are currently doing.”

The reveal of A3-001 came nine months after Janes