Saab unveils stealthy supersonic drone to fly with Gripen

Swedish defense company Saab revealed a full-scale concept model of a new stealthy, supersonic unmanned combat aircraft at the Jubilee Air Show at Malmen Air Base in Linköping on August 21, 2026. Designated A3-001, the aircraft is designed to fly alongside Gripen E fighters as part of Saab's Autonomous Collaborative Platform program, marking Sweden's formal entry into the growing field of collaborative combat aircraft.

A Stealthy, Tailless Design

The A3-001 features a tailless delta-wing configuration with a blended body and cropped wings, all shaped to minimize its radar signature. An internal weapons bay allows it to carry munitions without external exposure, preserving its low-observable characteristics. The absence of a vertical stabilizer is a design choice that further reduces radar cross-section, while a distinctive sawtooth-shaped fuselage around the engine nozzle — a feature also used on the F-35 — addresses rear-aspect detectability.defence-ua+3

Saab envisions the aircraft performing missions that commanders are least willing to assign to crewed platforms: electronic warfare, suppression of enemy air defenses, and precision strike in contested environments. Under this operational concept, a Gripen E pilot would direct multiple A3 aircraft while remaining outside the most heavily defended airspace.The Times Of India+1

Development Timeline

The A3-001 concept is supported by two technology demonstrators, designated A1 and A2, which Saab is contracted to develop through 2030. Peter Nilsson, head of Saab's Advanced Programs business unit, said the company intends to "fly uncrewed demonstrators with fighter-like characteristics before 2030" as part of ongoing work with Sweden's defense establishment.twz+1

"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," Nilsson said. The Aviationist reported that Saab is targeting a first demonstrator flight within approximately 18 months, which would place it in late 2027 or early 2028.UK Defence Journal+1

Strategic Context

The unveiling comes as several nations pursue similar collaborative combat aircraft programs, including the United States' YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A platforms. Saab and Airbus confirmed in late 2025 that they are in discussions about cooperating on unmanned fighter technology for both Eurofighter and Gripen. Sweden's broader KFS program, backed by a 2.6 billion SEK contract from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, aims to shape the country's post-2040 air combat capabilities.Army Recognition+3