Interview with Ann-Cristin Adolfsson, Chief Strategy Officer, Saab Aeronautics

Coincident with distribution at the Paris Air Show of MilTech 4/2023 and the Air Power special issue, Mönch Online News (MON) had the opportunity to complement the collection of industrial insights in the latter issue with an exclusive interview with Ann-Cristin Adolfsson (ACA) at Saab Aeronautics, delving into the company’s understanding of air power today.

MON: What is your understanding of the concept of Air Power today? What evolution do you see from the perspective of an aircraft manufacturer?

ACA: There are – and always will be – synergies between civil and military aeronautics. With the earlier production of the Saab 340 and 2000, as well as being a partner to Airbus and Boeing commercial aircraft, we have established a great foundation to be cost efficient in our military aeronautic business – the cost-efficient Gripen, for example, and facilitating the T-7 and GlobalEye programmes.

A Gripen-E in air-to-air configuration, with four MBDA Metor long-range missiles underwing and two Diehl IRIS-T at the wingtips.

MON: Technology and air power are integrally and synergistically related. Do you see technology currently driving requirements or vice-versa? Can you describe the relationship between operational requirements and technological advances?

ACA: Saab’s heritage has always been to integrate new and emerging technologies very early and quickly. This is true right now as well as for the future. However, we must always bear in mind the benefits accruing to operational effect – creating a real ‘edge’, not simply implementing new technologies just for the fun of it.

MON: How do you perceive Saab’s positioning vis-à-vis other airframers – large and small?

ACA: We do not like to compare ourselves with others. However, we know that we are well positioned in relation to our products and that, with the Gripen E, we have introduced and certified an entirely open systems architecture, facilitated by full implementation of model-based systems engineering. We currently have the Gripen C/D in operation, the Gripen E in the delivery phase, GlobalEye delivered to the UAE (and ordered by Sweden) and, on top of that, the T-7 programme with Boeing. In addition, we are seeing huge interest in the stock market, where investors seem to be taking a positive view of our future.

MON: Can you talk about your approach to emerging technologies, at a time when a new potentially disruptive technology seems to arise every week?

ACA: The open system architecture in the Gripen E is designed for this! We can very easily implement new technologies into the system. For example, we have already introduced new computers with higher capacity; an achievement that took less than two months. Also, the Gripen C/D is designed for this and it is our standard daily routine.

A Gripen-E flying over the sea in its impressive multi-grey colour scheme.

MON: A propos future programmes, can you describe the roadmap for GCAP from your point of view?

ACA: It is early to be talking about it from our point of view. The Swedish government is now preparing the national roadmap for future fighter systems. The proposal is to decide, before 2030, upon the future combat air system for use beyond 2040. This includes Gripen C/D, Gripen E and whatever next generation fighter might be. This is, of course, a ‘system of systems’ approach, to include unmanned systems. We are preparing a roadmap for Swedish national development, in a manner similar to the Gripen programme. The analysis made so far has shown that this is absolutely possible. The task for us in the upcoming Swedish national decision basis programme is to prepare viable and preferred options for Sweden, meeting the future operational requirements in a NATO context in a cost-effective manner.

MON: We often talk about technologies onboard the aircraft. What about changes in the way you design, industrialise, and manufacture air superiority fighters?

ACA: Saab already has a certified, fully open system architecture in the Gripen E. This, together with the fully implemented model-based engineering we used on Gripen E, with digital twins etc. through design, development and production, is a foundation from which to achieve change.

MON: Thank you for sharing your insights.

[Ann-Cristin Adolfsson is a member of the Saab Aeronautics management team and head of the company’s strategy.  Previously, she was a member of the Saab Group management team and CEO of Saab Ventures, and has also been head of Saab Kockums business unit and CEO of Saab Kockums AB.  She has longstanding experience in working with FMV, not least in sales negotiations over the Gripen – which also featured in her time as CEO and Chairman of Industrigruppen JAS (the JAS industrial consortium). Simultaneously with her Saab Aeronautics roles, she also serves as a board member of several industry organisations and companies.]