The future of defense

Major defense IPO may be postponed – investors hesitate

The Franco-German defense group KNDS may be forced to postpone its planned stock market listing in July. This is because investors are hesitant to jump on the bandwagon, writes FT.

Several investors are said to have given the thumbs down this week due to the valuation of the equivalent of 133 billion kronor, according to the newspaper's sources.

At the same time, the company's German owner family, which controls 50 percent of the company and the French state the rest, states that it will not carry out a listing that values ​​the company lower than the current level.

Saab receives order for 16 Gripen planes from Ukraine – deal worth 25 billion

Saab has signed a contract with the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) for an initial delivery of 16 Gripen Es to Ukraine, Saab writes in a press release.

The order is worth SEK 24.6 billion and will be booked in the third quarter. Deliveries to FMV will take place in 2029-2030.

In addition to the aircraft, the contract also includes spare parts and associated equipment and supplies.

- I am very proud that Sweden and Saab can now enable the delivery of Gripen Es to Ukraine and provide the country with a world-class fighter aircraft that provides a new level of operational capability, says Saab CEO Micael Johansson in a comment.

At the end of May, the government announced that it would donate 16 Gripen planes of the C/D model to Ukraine, and that the country intends to purchase 20 Gripen E/Fs.

Saab's press officer Mattias Rådström tells DI that what was previously the case were "declarations of intent, ambitions and directions", but that a contract has now been signed.

A final decision on the listing is expected next week. 

Jonson: Ukraine will receive a significantly stronger defense

It is now clear that Sweden is donating 16 Gripen C/D at the same time as Ukraine is buying 16 Gripen E.

Defense Minister Pål Jonson met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyj in Kyiv on Tuesday to sign the agreement.

- Ukraine will receive a significantly stronger air defense thanks to the Gripen plane, he tells DN.

According to Saab, the deal is worth almost SEK 25 billion.