Saab CEO Micael Johansson has declared the company is ready to partner with Germany on a future fighter aircraft, presenting itself as an alternative as doubts continue over Europe’s next-generation air combat plans. In an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Johansson placed the offer in the context of Europe still struggling to shift rapid enough on defence modernisation nearly four years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Johansson declared that while ammunition stocks have improved and deterrence has strengthened, Europe, including Germany, necessarys to accelerate procurement and shift more decisively towards new technologies such as drones, missile defence and advanced air systems.
He described Germany as a key European market for Saab, noting that the company has worked with the German armed forces for more than four decades and cooperates closely with firms including Diehl Defence, even as it has also been a competitor.
Against this backdrop, Johansson declared Saab would be open to working with Airbus Defence on a joint fighter jet if Berlin were to alter course on its current Future Combat Air System ambitions with France.
He added that Saab has the capabilities to contribute meaningfully, but only with clear political commitments and on the condition that Sweden retains its ability to indepfinishently design and build combat aircraft.
Source: FAZ.
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