Saab has revealed a full-scale concept model of an uncrewed combat aircraft it is developing as a potential future capability for the Swedish Air Force.
The concept, called A3-001, was shown at the Jubilee Air Show at Malmen Air Base in Linköping, Sweden, and illustrates how crewed and uncrewed platforms could operate together as part of an integrated combat air system. It places Saab among a growing group of manufacturers developing so-called Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), semi-autonomous drones designed to fly alongside piloted fighters and share sensor and weapons workloads while reducing risk to pilots.
Several air forces are pursuing similar concepts. In the UK, BAE Systems recently unveiled its own CCA concept, Brontanax, which is designed to fly alongside Typhoon fighters ahead of a planned first flight in 2027 and is backed by around £300 million (US$401 million) in UK government funding.
In the USA, General Atomics has begun flight testing its YFQ-42A CCA, and Anduril has started flight tests of its YFQ-44A design, as the US Air Force works toward fielding more than 150 aircraft under its own CCA program.
The uncrewed platform could complement Saab’s Gripen and other future crewed combat air capabilities. The A3 is envisioned for high-risk missions, such as electronic warfare, suppression of enemy air defenses and precision strike operations in highly contested environments.
With low observability, a high degree of autonomy and the ability to operate across multiple domains, Saab said the concept illustrates a potential component of a future combat air capability.
Peter Nilsson, head of the advanced programs business unit at Saab, said, “We are 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,” he added.
