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Industry · Combat aircraft

Eurofighter sees opportunities to sell 200-plus jets, Breaking Defense reports

The consortium’s potential export tally has grown, but its production ramp-up plans received no update at the Munich conference, Breaking Defense reports.

Eurofighter identified opportunities to sell more than 200 fighters in an infographic presented at this week's International Fighter Conference in Munich, Breaking Defense reported Nov. 5. That potential export tally has increased from 134 aircraft presented at the 2025 conference.1

Market opportunities to sell more than 200 Eurofighter jets

at the International Fighter Conference

Turkey and Saudi Arabia78 aircraftcontingent

Potential new deals include second-batch orders from Turkey and Saudi Arabia totaling 78 aircraft

Austria36contingent

closing an Austria order would add 36

A breakdown of customers and quantities for 86 or more of the 200-plus aircraft was not shared

Reported by Breaking Defense

Sources
TGOs tgos.io

The figure represents prospective sales. Potential second-batch orders for Turkey and Saudi Arabia account for 78 aircraft, while closing an Austrian order would add 36. The consortium provided no customer-and-quantity breakdown for 86 or more aircraft in the projection.1

The consortium has long expressed interest in exporting to countries like Portugal, Poland and Bangladesh. In Portugal, Airbus leads Eurofighter’s campaign to replace the country’s aging F-16s, competing with the F-35, Gripen and Rafale. An Airbus spokesperson told Breaking Defense that the proposal would be formally submitted by the end of this year.1

Poland is considering a contract for 32 additional fighters. It could buy more F-35s after securing a $4 billion U.S. Foreign Military Financing loan in September, the outlet reported.1

Existing production commitments provide a separate measure of Eurofighter’s business. Conference figures showed 60 aircraft in production under contracts with Spain, Germany and Kuwait. Recent orders, including Turkey’s, account for another 89 aircraft set for future production.1

No update on Eurofighter’s production ramp-up plans was provided, Breaking Defense reported. Eurofighter CEO Degenhardt said last year he is targeting 30 aircraft a year beginning in 2028, based on securing new export business.1

Sources (1)
  1. Breaking Defense: Eurofighter eyes sales of 200 additional aircraft (Nov. 5, 2026) breakingdefense.com
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Industry · Autonomous combat aircraft

Shield AI says X-BAT per-aircraft cost could fall to $25 million, Breaking Defense reports

Breaking Defense reports a higher-end sensor configuration could add $10 million. Shield AI aims to begin production in 2029.

Shield AI cofounder and chief strategy officer Ryan Tseng said the X-BAT's per-aircraft cost could be brought down to $25 million, Breaking Defense reported Nov. 4 from Munich. The autonomous fighter is designed for vertical takeoff and landing.1

Per-aircraft cost for the X-BAT could be brought down to $25 million

Shield AI cofounder Ryan Tseng

per-aircraft cost$25 millioncontingent

a per-aircraft cost for the X-BAT could be brought down to $25 million

higher-end sensor configurationextra $10 millioncontingent

customers could expect to pay an extra $10 million

Reported by Breaking Defense, Nov. 4, 2026

Sources
TGOs tgos.io

The cost case reported by Breaking Defense remains prospective.1 Shield AI has completed its first full-scale prototype and is moving it from Frisco, Texas, to its flight-test facility in Newton, Kansas.2

Tseng said customers wanting a higher-end sensor configuration could expect to pay an extra $10 million, according to Breaking Defense. He put the baseline at around a quarter of the cost of a Eurofighter or an F-35 in Europe. The article gives no cost basis for that comparison or production quantity assumed for the X-BAT price.1

Andrew Hawkes, Shield AI's X-BAT director for Europe, told the outlet the company has several active sales campaigns across the continent, but declined to name customers. Tseng said European orders and regional partnership agreements would be announced soon; he declined to disclose aircraft quantities.1

Shield AI's path to production still runs through prototype testing. The company plans engine runs, then crane-suspended testing, before untethered flights. It aims to fly the missionized aircraft in 2028 and enter production in 2029.2

Sources (2)
  1. Breaking Defense: Shield AI cofounder teases 'snowball' of X-BAT fighter drone announcements in Europe (Nov. 4, 2026) breakingdefense.com
  2. Shield AI: We Built the First X-BAT Prototype in One Year. Now We Put it to the Test. shield.ai
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Industry · Fighters

Saab and IMP sign teaming agreement for a Canadian Gripen assembly line

The planned line depends on Canada buying Gripen E, with Magellan Aerospace and CAE also lined up for structures manufacturing and training.

Saab announced Oct. 27 that it signed a teaming agreement with IMP to establish a Gripen final assembly line in Canada if the country acquires the aircraft. IMP would also handle electrical assembly production and in-service support for Canada's Gripens.1

Saab plans to work with CAE, IMP and Magellan Aerospace

if Gripen E is selected by the Government of Canada

IMPfinal assembly linecontingent

electrical assembly and in-service support

Magellan Aerospacelocal manufacturingcontingent

advanced aerostructures, composite structures and structural assemblies

CAEfighter pilot and technician trainingcontingent

mission systems engineering and support/sustainment

Source: Saab, October 27, 2026

Sources
TGOs tgos.io

The assembly plan sits alongside agreements for Canadian manufacturing and training, each conditional on Canada buying the fighter. Saab signed a new memorandum of understanding with Magellan Aerospace for local manufacturing of advanced aerostructures, composite structures and structural assemblies. An earlier memorandum with CAE covers fighter pilot and technician training, mission systems engineering, support and sustainment.1

Defense News reports that Canada is examining whether to buy Gripen E as an alternative to the F-35 or alongside it. Canada's commitment to buy 88 F-35s is under review, the outlet reports. Canada has paid for 16 F-35s.2

Canada's fighter choice would determine whether Saab and its partners establish the proposed domestic production and support capability. IMP Aerospace & Defence President David Gossen also sees an opportunity to produce and support aircraft for international Gripen customers.1

Sources (2)
  1. Saab, Saab Announces Key Partners for Gripen Canada, Oct. 27, 2026 www.saab.com
  2. Defense News, If Canada picks the Gripen fighter, these local firms would help Saab deliver the jets, Oct. 28, 2026 www.defensenews.com
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