Swedish Air Force Commander talks about next-generation fighter jets and the anti-drone role of the "Gripen" fighter jet

On October 10, 2024, at Andravida Air Base near Andravida, Greece, ground crew prepared Swedish Air Force Gripen fighter jets during the NATO exercise Ramstein Flag 24. Since December 2022, Major General Jonas Wikman has served as the Commander of the Swedish Air Force, overseeing a large-scale modernization program aimed at enhancing new operational capabilities while promoting the country's accession as a new NATO member. He leads over 2,700 military personnel and a growing fleet of Gripen fighter jets, with the long-term goal of reaching a total of 120 fighter jets, including a mix of older C/D models and new E models. The Scandinavian country also plans to increase its defense spending by $2.9 billion in 2026, an 18% increase from 2025. In an interview ahead of the upcoming New Year, the Swedish Air Force Commander shared insights into the current status of Sweden's future fighter jet program, the new electronic warfare capabilities equipped on the Gripen E fighter jet, the greatest threats to Sweden's security, his work priorities, and his views on Canada's interest in purchasing Swedish-made aircraft. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Given that Saab has been awarded a contract to continue conceptual research for developing this technology, how is Sweden's current future fighter jet program progressing? A year ago, you mentioned considering a combination of loyal wingmen or drones. What are your thoughts now? Regarding the overall development direction of the next-generation fighter jet platform, we are still at the same stage. We continue to invest in knowledge and flexibility to choose the best-suited option for us. What I can tell you is that we will be politically prepared to present our views on this matter next year. Based on that, I believe we will form a sound national position as we advance the program. When it comes to unmanned systems, one thing has increased – our interest in integrating new knowledge into existing capabilities and operational actions. We originally planned to explore options, provide choices for politicians, wait for their decisions, and then move on to the next platform or system part of cooperative fighters. We realize that if new technologies are developed in the process, we may not be able to wait that long to introduce other unmanned platforms.

For example, in the development of the Gripen D aircraft, we also adhere to the same concept - whenever we develop a new function or software for the E model, we will introduce it to the older models as soon as possible. At this point, could you rank the following options according to your preferences or feasibility: developing domestic fighter jets; forming a joint venture with other countries or companies; purchasing existing designs and producing them in Sweden under license? This is a question I have always been unable to answer. Part of the reason is that our answer will be more complicated than those three options. Moreover, it will not be evaluated in that way. The result is likely to be some kind of cooperation, a national project that combines various different elements. We are also required to ensure that all these alternatives are feasible. As an individual, I could answer you based on my own thoughts, but that would not be the right way to move the process forward. We are still exploring these three aspects in principle. One thing I have always been worried about is that the plan may be too platform-centered, but we (Sweden) have a historical and cultural tradition that prevents us from doing so. At the same time, we also need to consider and attach importance to ground operations, command and control tasks, and how to make them perfectly fit with the new platform. Regarding the upgrade of the electronic warfare suite of the new Gripen E fighter jet, what functions are you most looking forward to? We are very much looking forward to its equipped electronic warfare spectrum technology, because I expect this to become the core advantage of the aircraft. For us, whether it is protection and concealment capabilities, or offensive capabilities, these types of capabilities are top priorities. The electronic warfare suite works in conjunction with multiple sensors, shares and receives internal and external information through the network, and provides this information to other platforms - which is very similar to the F-35. I think our operational domains are the same. With these new capabilities, we can participate more deeply in battles, influence opponents in a more aggressive way, and at the same time send this data to "Global Eye" and other shooters and sensors. This is why we are eager to obtain this capability, because it means we will be able to operate closer to threats. I think most people underestimate the power of the E version in this battle. What I am looking for is a range of capabilities, not a single method. For example, the actual capability of not being detected, which can be achieved in multiple ways - small radar cross-section, stealth characteristics, electronic warfare suite. The E version has strong capabilities in not being detected, deceiving or influencing other sensors. What is the biggest threat to Sweden's security currently? For us, we clearly see, and I think we are very clear at all levels, that the threat to our security is undoubtedly from Russia. There is a systemic conflict between the Western collective and Russia. What will be the biggest challenge for the Air Force next year? What are your work priorities for 2026? I don't think we are in a difficult situation, but the pace of national capability development has indeed accelerated, and this is something we must adapt to. To achieve the goal of core defense spending accounting for 3.5% of GDP by 2030, it means we must maintain a high operational level at the national level while also maintaining a high operational level as an ally. Our priority to become a net contributor to NATO is very high. That is why the Swedish Air Force and Navy have carried out two missions in Poland this year and will be deployed to Latvia again next year. We must balance Air Force resources and adjust training so that we can develop our own capabilities while performing combat and training missions. When we went to Poland, we set capability goals. The fighter unit brought additional personnel and equipment and conducted some research and development work in air and ground operations. I think this is the right way to move towards the future, because we only have one force. What is also exciting is that in 2026 we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the service. You mentioned that earlier this year, the Gripen fighter jets participated in NATO's air policing mission in Poland, which was their first overseas deployment and achieved success. During some missions, the aircraft was able to identify and attack very low and slow targets. Is this a combat mode that you are practicing more and more? Yes, but this question is a bit complicated. One of the reasons is that our originally designed radars were of the previous generation, so they could not detect such small moving targets. In the operation in Poland, the second mission we carried out included protecting a very important logistics hub, which meant that such targets did exist. Here, I think of the "Shahed" drones as part of the mission. Therefore, we had to verify whether we could successfully detect and attack these types of targets. Before deployment, we conducted a rapid verification plan. This was not an easy task from either a tactical or technical perspective. Their flight speed is relatively slow, which is a problem for us, because we were not originally designed to attack small moving targets. This means we need to train for this and ensure that we have the technical capabilities to locate and attack these targets. And we did. Now we have verified that the Gripen fighters and our troops can do this, and this is also part of our capabilities (against "Shahed" drones). Considering that Canada is considering purchasing Gripen fighters instead of F-35 as its next-generation fighter jets, what is your view on this? Do you think there is room for further cooperation between the two sides? I really don't want to think about that. I had a good conversation with the Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, ensuring that we had all the necessary information exchanges and had the same understanding of the [Gripen] platform. This is a decision for them to make, and I respect all relevant factors, whether political, technical or technological. This is not within my consideration at all. If we are not talking about the purchase of fighter jets, I think the space for future cooperation between us (Canada and Sweden) will definitely increase. Both of us are involved in the construction of the new logistics headquarters in Enköping, Sweden (to support NATO's northwest operational area), which will be a common foothold for dialogues on overlapping threats. Sweden and Canada are far apart, but we are both interested in the same geographical environment and have many similarities in culture and way of thinking. Both sides believe that strengthening cooperation between our air forces will be of great benefit. Sweden's accession to NATO and its acceptance of NATO's command also means that we will meet more frequently.