Saab unveils uncrewed combat aircraft concept for next-generation combat aviation

By Staff Report August 25, 2026 6:47 pm IST

Saab has unveiled its uncrewed combat aircraft, the A3-001, at Malmen Air Base, showcasing a vision for future integrated combat aviation with crewed and uncrewed platforms.

Saab unveiled its uncrewed combat aircraft, the A3-001, displayed at Malmen Air Base; the A3-001 concept illustrates Saab’s potential approach to next-generation combat aviation, where crewed and uncrewed platforms operate together as part of an integrated system-of-systems architecture.

The A3-001 could complement the Gripen and future crewed combat-air capabilities. The concept is intended to provide an uncrewed option for missions where operating in highly contested environments could expose crewed aircraft to significant risks. A3-001 is expected to operate in missions that include electronic warfare, suppression of enemy air defences and precision strike. It is expected to potentially be operational in high-risk operations in contested environments.

The concept incorporates low observability and a high degree of autonomy while being envisioned to operate across multiple domains. Saab says these characteristics could make an uncrewed platform a valuable component of future combat-air capabilities. Saab is currently working with Sweden on technologies that could support the next generation of combat-air systems. As part of this effort, the company intends to fly uncrewed demonstrators with fighter-like characteristics before 2030, supporting Sweden as it considers its future combat-air requirements.

Peter Nilsson, head of Saab’s Advanced Programs business unit, states, “We are currently in an intensive development phase where, together with Sweden, we are 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 their future options. 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. Saab is well positioned to develop the next generation of combat air systems, building on Gripen and GlobalEye, combined with our long experience in advanced aerospace systems.” 

The Saab experience in advanced aerospace systems, including the Gripen and GlobalEye, provides an important foundation for developing future combat-air capabilities. The A3-001 concept is therefore positioned not simply as a standalone aircraft but as a potential element within a broader network of crewed and uncrewed platforms. Such an approach could allow different aircraft to perform complementary roles while increasing flexibility across complex operational environments.

The full-scale concept model was on public display during the Swedish Armed Forces Air Show, giving visitors a first-hand look at Saab’s vision for future uncrewed combat aviation. The company’s presentation of A3-001 highlights the growing role that autonomous and uncrewed systems could play in the evolution of military aviation. Saab’s ongoing work with Sweden on technologies for the next generation of combat-air systems.