IFC 2025: Saab teases future fighter concepts for Sweden

Saab showcased its KFS future fighter concepts for Sweden at the IQPC IFC 2025 event in Rome. (Saab via Janes/Gareth Jennings)

Saab has teased a number of designs it is developing for Sweden's Future Combat Aircraft Concept (Konceptet Framtidens Stridsflyg: KFS) effort.

Showcased on a company display board at the IQPC International Fighter Conference (IFC) 2025 being held in Rome from 4 to 6 November, the concepts illustrated a range of both manned and unmanned airframes that might potentially replace the Saab Gripen E in Swedish Air Force (SwAF) service.

According to the board, which showed only the forward fuselages, Saab has been working on six conceptual designs comprising three manned and three unmanned aircraft. The manned airframes are single seaters, with all the platforms featuring low-observable ‘stealth' characteristics to varying degrees.

The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (Försvarets materielverk: FMV) contracted Saab and GKN Aerospace (exploring future powerplant concepts) in March 2024 to provide it with the basis for future fighter decisions based on studies, technology development, and preparations for demonstrators.

Phase 1 of the project addressed concept exploration, with Phase 2 addressing technology and demonstrator development.

Concept development is taking place under four primary silos: management and planning, concept development, technology development, and flying demonstrators. Key capability drivers will include autonomy; artificial intelligence; robust low observability; internal weapons bay; and rapid prototyping; as well as next-generation propulsion, power, and cooling.

The next-generation fighter(s) may be manned and/or unmanned or both, and will operate as part of a wider system-of-systems that would include unmanned adjuncts and other assets. Saab said there may even be more than one flying demonstrator design.

The current studies will run through to 2030, with further development to follow from 2031.