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FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

GA-ASI and Saab complete first flight of MQ-9B SkyGuardian with Saab LoyalEye airborne early warning radar

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) and Saab have completed the first flight of an MQ-9B configured with Saab-designed LoyalEye airborne early warning (AEW) pods. The companies say it is the first unmanned AEW platform of its kind, advancing persistent AEW surveillance for missions where manned aircraft are unavailable.

2026-05-21T09:38:36.247976-07:00

AeroTime

France orders Varda counter-drone systems with Saab Giraffe 1X radars for short-range air defense

2026-05-18T04:54:32.756312-07:00

Air Data News

Thailand’s Gripen E/F: Saab begins assembling the first fighters in Linköping for RTAF F-16 replacement

2026-05-14T14:16:27.813591-07:00

saab.com

Embraer and Saab unveil Brazil's first locally assembled F-39E Gripen

2026-03-25T08:41:20.748653-07:00

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FlightGlobal

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GA-ASI and Saab complete first flight of MQ-9B SkyGuardian with Saab LoyalEye airborne early warning radar General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) and Saab have completed the first flight of an MQ-9B configured with Saab-designed LoyalEye airborne early warning (AEW) pods. The companies say it is the first unmanned AEW platform of its kind, advancing persistent AEW surveillance for missions where manned aircraft are unavailable.

2026-05-21T09:38:36.247976-07:00

GA-ASI and Saab complete first flight of MQ-9B SkyGuardian with Saab LoyalEye airborne early warning radar

AeroTime

France orders Varda counter-drone systems with Saab Giraffe 1X radars for short-range air defense France’s DGA has signed a contract with Saab and Scania France to supply Giraffe 1X radars integrated on Scania tactical vehicles under the Varda programme. The deal covers 16-17 radar systems (per reporting), aimed at strengthening short and very-short-range air defense against FPV drones and tactical UAVs.

2026-05-18T04:54:32.756312-07:00

France orders Varda counter-drone systems with Saab Giraffe 1X radars for short-range air defense

Air Data News

Thailand’s Gripen E/F: Saab begins assembling the first fighters in Linköping for RTAF F-16 replacement Royal Thai Air Force officials visited Saab in Sweden to review progress on Thailand’s Gripen E/F acquisition. Saab says production has started, with assembly of the first jet beginning at the company’s Linköping facility under the program aimed at replacing RTAF F-16 Block 15 aircraft.

2026-05-14T14:16:27.813591-07:00

Thailand’s Gripen E/F: Saab begins assembling the first fighters in Linköping for RTAF F-16 replacement

Breaking Defense

Ukraine-US Defense Minister talks with Sweden’s leadership on near-term Saab Gripen purchase and expanded air-defence cooperatio Ukraine’s defense minister said Kyiv could sign a Saab Gripen deal within months following talks in Stockholm with Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson and defense minister Pål Jonson. The meetings also covered broader cooperation on air defence and defense-technology projects, including Gripen-specific discussions to strengthen Ukraine’s combat aviation capacity.

2026-05-07T14:09:32.717637-07:00

Ukraine-US Defense Minister talks with Sweden’s leadership on near-term Saab Gripen purchase and expanded air-defence cooperatio

AeroTime

Reports: NATO weighs Saab GlobalEye to replace Boeing E-3 Sentry AWACS as E-7 Wedgetail programme collapses; Saab says no contra French media reports NATO is moving ahead with Saab GlobalEye to replace its E-3 Sentry AWACS fleet, positioning a European solution as Boeing is displaced. The claims come as the E-7 Wedgetail programme collapsed; Saab also denies a signed NATO GlobalEye contract amid the coverage.

2026-04-23T02:50:46.727091-07:00

Reports: NATO weighs Saab GlobalEye to replace Boeing E-3 Sentry AWACS as E-7 Wedgetail programme collapses; Saab says no contra

defence-blog.com

NATO scrambles fighters in Baltic Sea intercept involving Swedish Gripen; Tu-22M3 bombers and Su-30M2 escort tracked Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighters launched to identify and shadow a Russian formation over the Baltic Sea, while NATO aircraft based at Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania were dispatched to monitor intrusions. The Russian mission included two Tu-22M3 supersonic bombers escorted by roughly 10 fighters, including Su-30M2; French Rafales and other members joined monitoring.

2026-04-20T11:35:56.809732-07:00

NATO scrambles fighters in Baltic Sea intercept involving Swedish Gripen; Tu-22M3 bombers and Su-30M2 escort tracked

Reuters

Sweden awards SEK 8.7bn GUTE II C‑UAS programme to Saab‑led team including BAE, Nammo and SISU Sweden has launched an SEK 8.7 billion GUTE II counter‑unmanned aircraft system programme, awarding contracts to Saab, BAE Systems Bofors, Nammo and SISU. Saab was named lead systems integrator with an ~SEK 2.6bn order for a mobile, modular C‑UAS (deliveries 2027–28); BAE won roughly $180m for the Tridon Mk2.

2026-04-02T01:01:25.894511-07:00

Sweden awards SEK 8.7bn GUTE II C‑UAS programme to Saab‑led team including BAE, Nammo and SISU

Air Data News

Saab presses Gripen bid in Peru as country signals lean toward F-16 amid no formal decision Saab is intensifying its campaign to sell Gripen fighters to Peru even as officials have shown signs of leaning toward F-16s. No formal procurement decision has been announced, leaving the contest open while Saab continues to press its case, including offers of industrial cooperation.

2026-03-27T02:30:58.150691-07:00

Saab presses Gripen bid in Peru as country signals lean toward F-16 amid no formal decision

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SAAB News

GA-ASI and Saab complete first flight of MQ-9B SkyGuardian with Saab LoyalEye airborne early warning radar

France orders Varda counter-drone systems with Saab Giraffe 1X radars for short-range air defense

Thailand’s Gripen E/F: Saab begins assembling the first fighters in Linköping for RTAF F-16 replacement

Embraer and Saab unveil Brazil's first locally assembled F-39E Gripen

News Timeline