Ukraine will purchase 20 new Gripen fighters, while Sweden will donate 16 of an earlier model in a shorter timeframe.
This was announced on Thursday by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson during a visit to an airbase in Uppsala, 70 km north of Stockholm. The 16 donated aircraft will be delivered at the beginning of 2027, said Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. “This is a historic decision for Sweden, which also significantly strengthens Ukraine’s air defense,” he added.
The multi-billion order comes after the signing, in October, of a letter of intent for Kyiv’s possible purchase of up to 150 Gripen E/F aircraft, notes Breaking Defense, although deliveries of the latest model are expected in several years. “We hope to secure funding for all units,” Zelensky said. It is important to highlight that the Gripen can be armed with the powerful European-made Meteor air-to-air missiles.
As Reuters points out, the Ukrainian Air Force is composed of a mix of Soviet and Western-made aircraft. The Gripen is considered a cost-effective alternative to fighters like the more advanced American F-35, being easy and quick to maintain and capable of operating from dispersed airbases such as regular roads.
All the details.
UKRAINE EYES SWEDISH GRIPEN FIGHTERS
On May 28, Sweden announced that Ukraine has agreed to order up to 20 Gripen E/F fighters produced by Saab and will receive 16 Gripen C/D, older models, donated by the Nordic country.
Regarding the Gripen E fighters, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated that the goal is to quickly reach a final agreement, with initial deliveries expected starting from 2030.
Meanwhile, the possible transfer of the Gripen in the C/D versions would offer a bridging solution to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense capabilities. The Swedish aircraft represent one of the priorities for renewing Kyiv’s combat fleet.
“The Gripen is the best and optimal choice for Ukraine. So today we take the next important step in this shared journey,” Kristersson said during a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Uppsala airbase, where two fighter jets were displayed.
“We need these planes and for us this truly represents a new chapter for Ukraine,” Zelensky said, adding that Kyiv aims to acquire all 150 aircraft outlined in the initial letter of intent. “God bless us, we will have the necessary funding,” the Ukrainian president concluded.
THE PURCHASE THROUGH THE EU LOAN PACKAGE
In May, the Ukrainian Defense Minister had indicated the possibility of signing an agreement for the Gripen E “within a few months,” after the European Union approved a 90 billion euro loan to support Kyiv. Last December, EU leaders agreed to lend Kyiv 90 billion euros to help cover its needs in 2026 and 2027. The EU Council specified in a note that two-thirds of the funds (60 billion euros) would be spent on military aid and one-third (30 billion) on general budget support.
Unlike previous European aid packages, this one is strongly oriented towards defense spending. About 70 billion dollars of the loan will be allocated to the military, providing Kyiv with a substantial sum to purchase costly air defense systems and expand drone production, its most effective tools to counter Russian ground attacks. These will include supplies from Ukrainian industries, the EU, SEE-EFTA countries, and other third countries with bilateral agreements under the Safe regulation.
On April 23, the European Council formalized the adoption of the measure, allowing the European Commission to start disbursements during the second quarter of 2026. Zelensky stated that Ukraine has allocated 2.5 billion euros for the jets. Deliveries of the new model are expected to arrive in Ukraine starting from 2030.
SAAB’S SATISFACTION
Finally, shares of the Swedish manufacturer Saab rose by 4.4% following the agreement, making it the best-performing stock in Europe.
Saab CEO Micael Johansson said it was an important day for the company and that the deal helped give further momentum to the Gripen program.
“The more countries choose the Gripen fighter… and the more it starts flying in operations in more countries, the more people understand what a fantastic capability it is,” Johansson told Reuters at the Uppsala airbase.
EXPERTS’ COMMENT
The plan to donate the C/D type jets to Kyiv had been under evaluation for three years but was initially suspended until Sweden joined NATO, Breaking Defense reconstructs. Further delays occurred after allies asked Stockholm to wait until Ukraine could first integrate the donated F-16 aircraft. Since then, Kyiv has received second-hand French Mirage 2000 fighters.
Defense analysts have long advocated the need to send Gripen fighters to Ukraine. A November 2022 report from the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a British think tank specializing in defense and security, found that the aircraft is “by far the most suitable candidate” among Western-made fighters, capable of meeting operational requirements.
