Sweden has awarded Saab a contract worth 1 billion Swedish krona ($104 million) to produce a new missile launcher system for its Gripen fighter jets. The order, placed by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), covers serial production for both the Gripen C/D and the advanced Gripen E variants, aiming to strengthen the Swedish Air Force’s combat readiness and flexibility.
The missile launcher, developed and tested under an earlier contract, has now entered full-scale production following successful evaluations. Installed on the aircraft’s weapon pylons, the launcher provides a faster and more reliable link between the jet and its air-to-air missiles or countermeasure pods, enhancing data transfer speed and mission performance.
According to Saab, the new system is part of ongoing efforts to keep the Gripen fleet technologically advanced amid rapidly evolving air combat environments. The Swedish Air Force continues to modernize its air defense assets with upgrades and new systems entering service.
Recent enhancements include the deployment of Saab’s RBS 70 NG portable air-defense system, which offers automatic target tracking and improved night operations, and the RBS 98 medium-range system, based on the IRIS-T missile, to bolster protection against drones and cruise missiles. Sweden has also fielded GlobalEye early warning aircraft and completed the delivery of upgraded Archer artillery systems, further expanding its defense capabilities.
