Saab signed the Gripen E contract in Kyiv in early July, Johansson said on the company’s third-quarter earnings call. He described it as the start of a longer fighter partnership and said the Gripen’s ability to operate from dispersed locations would help Ukraine field a larger combat force.
“Everything will start with a donation of 16 C/D versions to Ukraine, as soon as possible,” Johansson said. “Then we will start our deliveries of the Gripen Es to Ukraine in 2029.”
Johansson gave no firm date for the C/D transfer and did not say how many Gripen E fighters the contract covers. He also gave no timetable for reaching the higher production capacity.
The two-seat Gripen flew for the first time during the quarter, and the first Gripen E built at Saab’s Brazilian factory also made its maiden flight. Johansson called the Brazilian flight an important step in expanding the company’s manufacturing capability there.
Saab’s Aeronautics division had an order backlog of more than SEK 100 billion, Johansson said. He said higher Gripen production volumes would help improve the division’s profitability.
