Saab Unveils Supersonic Stealth Drone Concept

Saab has unveiled a full-scale model of the Saab A3, a prospective supersonic stealth uncrewed aircraft designed to operate alongside fighter jets as part of an integrated system.

Saab announced the concept in a press release.

The concept is intended for high-risk missions, including electronic warfare, suppression of enemy air defenses and precision strikes in heavily defended areas.

“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,” says Peter Nilsson, head of the business unit Advanced Programs at Saab.

According to TWZ, whose reporters attended a briefing by Nilsson, Saab also presented a roadmap for its Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP) program. The event was held at Malmen Airbase in Sweden as part of celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the country’s Air Force.

According to Nilsson, ACP is part of the broader Swedish KFS project — Koncept för Framtida Stridsflygplan, or “Future Fighter Aircraft Concept.”

The A3 shares many features with an earlier concept Saab first unveiled in 2024. It retains a tailless stealth configuration with substantial internal space for fuel and weapons.

In addition to the prospective A3, Saab is already working on the A1 and A2 unmanned technology demonstrators, which are being funded by the Ministry of Defence of Sweden.

The A1 is expected to make its first flight within the next 15 months. The drone uses a GE Aerospace F414 engine, which powers Saab Gripen E/F manned fighters, and is designed to reach supersonic speeds.

The drone will have an internal weapons bay, but no tests involving the release or launch of munitions from it will be conducted because the primary purpose of the A1 is to demonstrate Saab’s ability to build and fly a stealth unmanned aircraft.

The next test aircraft, the A2, will also have an internal weapons bay and will likely be used to test weapons employment.

Other advanced technologies, including new materials and sensors, will also be tested on the A2. It will also be powered by an F414 engine.

Saab’s contract covers the development of the A1 and A2 demonstrators through 2030. However, the company currently has no ACP contract that would provide for further development of the project toward serial production of the A3.

“We have floated the view that this would be a great asset to the Gripen E, but right now there is no commitment,” Nilsson said.

According to the company, if the Swedish Armed Forces support the project, the A3 could make its first flight in the early 2030s and achieve initial operational capability in the middle of the decade. The company estimates that the ACP’s life-cycle cost would be approximately one-third that of the Gripen.