“We say we are aiming for somewhere between 25 and 30 across the year,” Johansson said during Saab’s second-quarter 2026 earnings call. “That’s doubling almost the capacity that where we are right now.”
Johansson said Saab was moving quickly towards the higher production rate. He expressed confidence that the company’s current investments would provide the capacity needed to manage the increase.
The planned ramp-up comes as Saab prepares an initial Gripen E contract with Ukraine. Johansson described the agreement as one of the major developments that defined the company’s second quarter.
Johansson said the first batch involved 16 Gripen E fighters, although Saab had not yet booked the contract. He also said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had discussed a potential requirement for as many as 150 aircraft.
“This is now the first batch actually being contracted by Ukraine, 16 Gripen Es. We haven’t booked this yet,” Johansson said.
Saab expected to book the agreement in the following quarter, according to the chief executive. Johansson said the timing reflected administrative requirements linked to Ukraine receiving funding from the European Union.
“This is only the first batch. We will diligently continue to work with the next batch,” Johansson said.
The Gripen programme is also advancing through Saab’s existing work for Brazil. The company rolled out the first two-seat Gripen F in Linköping, a development Johansson described as an important programme milestone.
Johansson said deliveries of the Gripen F were due to begin in the following quarter. The aircraft is under contract with Brazil, according to his remarks.
Gripen deliveries are already contributing to growth at Saab’s Aeronautics business. Johansson said tactical software development was also generating significant revenue for the division.
“The growth in Aeronautics is connected to good pace and deliveries of Gripen aircraft, but also the tactical software capability development adds a lot of revenue to the Aeronautics side of things,” Johansson said. The production increase is intended to provide additional capacity as Saab advances its Brazilian deliveries and works towards further business with Ukraine.
