STOCKHOLM- Saab will develop a new flight computer for the JAS 39 Gripen fighter family under a 1.3 billion Swedish kronor ($130 million) contract awarded by the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV). The project aims to replace an ageing system that is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain and ensure long-term support for Sweden’s combat aircraft.
The new flight computer will be designed to meet future requirements for performance, reliability, and security of supply across the Gripen fleet. The development will cover both the Gripen C/D and the newer Gripen E, with extensive verification testing required before the replacement system can enter service.
Gripen Flight Computer Upgrade
Saab’s new flight computer will replace a system whose origins date back to the earlier Gripen A/B generation.
Although the existing computer remains installed in the Gripen C/D and Gripen E, the FMV says it is approaching the end of its technical lifespan and can no longer be maintained sustainably.
The replacement is intended to provide a longer-term solution for the aircraft family rather than relying on ageing technology. Saab will work alongside the FMV during development to ensure that the new system meets the operational and technical requirements of Sweden’s Gripen fleet.
The 1.3 billion kronor contract, equivalent to approximately $130 million, reflects the importance of maintaining the aircraft’s critical onboard systems.
However, the announcement does not specify a completion date or when the new computer will begin entering operational service.
Safety And Reliability Testing
The flight computer is a central, safety-critical component of the JAS 39 Gripen. It supports the aircraft’s onboard computing architecture, making its reliability essential to continued operations and the safe functioning of the fighter.
According to the FMV, developing the replacement will require extensive engineering work. The system must also undergo verification testing before entering service to confirm its functionality, reliability, and contribution to flight safety.
This testing is particularly important because the new computer must operate within an established combat aircraft platform. Its integration must meet the requirements of the relevant Gripen variants while preserving the aircraft’s required performance and safety standards.
The FMV has not provided a detailed testing schedule or a specific date for operational introduction. Consequently, the development and verification phases will determine when the replacement can be adopted across the fleet.
Gripen Fleet Modernization
The flight computer project forms part of the longer-term effort to keep the Gripen family operational as its technology evolves.
Replacing the ageing system is intended to support both existing aircraft and future requirements, reducing dependence on equipment that is becoming difficult to sustain.
The Gripen C/D represents an earlier generation of the fighter, while the Gripen E is the newer variant. Developing a replacement computer for both versions will help address the obsolescence issue affecting the current system across the family.
For Saab and the FMV, the priority is to establish a maintainable computing system that can support the Gripen over the coming years.
The project’s success will depend on completing development and verification while meeting the aircraft’s demanding reliability and flight-safety requirements.
The contract announcement does not establish when the new flight computer will enter service or detail the number of aircraft scheduled to receive it. Those details remain to be confirmed as the development program progresses.
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