SAAB’s aircraft factory in Linköping is entering a new phase of growth, fuelled by surging global demand for the Gripen fighter and a wave of strategic contracts. In 2025 alone, the company has added 800 employees, bringing its workforce close to 8,000 — the largest in Sweden’s aerospace history. The expansion is crucial to keeping delivery schedules on track while advancing both current Gripen programs and the next generation of air combat systems.
Gripen E: A Catalyst for Growth
International demand for the Gripen E continues to climb. Sweden will take formal delivery of its first batch on October 20, 2025 — a symbolic milestone in the country’s defence modernization. The aircraft’s appeal lies in its modular design, advanced AESA radar and Skyward-G infrared sensors, and its integrated electronic warfare suite. Together, these systems give the Gripen E a balance of survivability, adaptability, and cost-efficiency that few rivals can match.
As Sweden expands its own fleet and new export opportunities emerge, production pressure has intensified. Linköping’s ramp-up is as much about meeting today’s orders as preparing for tomorrow’s defence landscape.
Investing in the Next Generation
SAAB Aeronautics, led by Lars Tossman, has also secured SEK 2.6 billion in new contracts for conceptual studies of next-generation fighter systems. These programs explore manned and unmanned aircraft with advanced stealth and cooperative “teaming” capabilities — the foundation of Sweden’s largest-ever investment in future air combat technology.
The effort involves close collaboration with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), the Armed Forces, and GKN Aerospace. Its long-term goal: shape Sweden’s strategic airpower decisions through the 2040s and beyond.
Efficiency and Delivery Discipline
Despite the expansion, efficiency remains a central focus. Tossman emphasizes that maintaining realistic delivery timelines has been critical to sustaining quality and credibility with both Swedish and international partners. Recent achievements include completing delivery of Gripen E systems for full operational use by Sweden’s military, alongside infrastructure upgrades designed to strengthen readiness and support.
Linköping: The Nordic Aerospace Hub
Linköping is steadily becoming the powerhouse of Nordic aerospace. SAAB’s growth reflects larger shifts across Europe — from renewed defence investment and NATO coordination to the global race for advanced fighter technology.
With sustained demand for Gripen jets and a clear path toward future stealth platforms, SAAB’s Linköping site is now central not just to Sweden’s defence industry, but to Europe’s ability to compete in next-generation air combat.