In a landmark development that could significantly strengthen Ukraine’s air combat capabilities, Sweden has announced plans to facilitate the acquisition of up to 20 Saab Gripen E/F fighter jets by Ukraine while also preparing to donate as many as 16 second-hand Gripen C/D aircraft as an interim solution.
The announcement was made during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to an airbase in Uppsala alongside Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, marking what both leaders described as a historic step in bilateral defense cooperation.
“Ukraine has clearly identified Gripen as the priority choice for its air force in the long term and intends to acquire the newest version, Gripen E,” Kristersson said during the joint press conference.
According to the Swedish Prime Minister, negotiations regarding the procurement of the latest Gripen E/F fighters are already underway, with deliveries potentially beginning by 2030. In the meantime, Stockholm is prepared to transfer older Gripen C/D variants as early as next year, provided Kyiv formally completes the purchase agreement and Sweden secures the necessary export authorizations.
The Swedish government stated that Ukraine intends to finance the acquisition of the advanced Gripen E/F aircraft using €2.5 billion ($2.9 billion) from the European Union’s Ukraine Support Loan mechanism.
“As a first step, the Swedish Government enables the procurement of up to twenty Gripen E/F aircraft, for which Ukraine plans to allocate 2.5 billion euros from the EU’s Ukraine Support Loan. When Ukraine proceeds with the intended purchase, Sweden also aims to donate sixteen Gripen C/D aircraft as bilateral assistance,” a statement from the Swedish Prime Minister’s Office said.
The package extends beyond aircraft alone. Stockholm indicated that it would also include long-range strike capabilities, electronic warfare systems, ammunition, and support for military innovation projects. The assistance package is expected to significantly improve Ukraine’s ability to challenge Russian air superiority and defend against aerial attacks.
Military analysts note that the donated arsenal could include advanced air-to-air missiles such as the IRIS-T, AIM-120 AMRAAM, and the highly capable Meteor missile. Such weapons would dramatically increase Ukraine’s ability to engage Russian aircraft at extended ranges and potentially alter the dynamics of the air war.
The announcement represents a significant change in Sweden’s approach toward military aid for Ukraine. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Kyiv has repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring Gripen fighters. However, Sweden had previously declined such requests, citing concerns about maintaining its own defense readiness and the complexities associated with integrating a new fighter platform into Ukraine’s armed forces.
While several NATO members have transferred aging F-16s and Mirage fighter aircraft to Ukraine, Stockholm had consistently resisted pressure to provide Gripens. The latest decision therefore marks a substantial policy shift and reflects Sweden’s growing confidence in supporting Ukraine’s long-term defense modernization.
“This is truly a historic event, a historic day for our cooperation and for our countries,” Zelenskyy said. “We’re talking specifically about a squadron of Gripens for Ukraine, and this is tremendously important support for us.”
The breakthrough has also been welcomed by Saab, the manufacturer of the Gripen fighter family.
“I am very proud of today’s announcement that Sweden and Ukraine, together with Saab, are taking further steps towards giving Ukraine access to Gripen, which is the world’s most advanced fighter,” said Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab. “We look forward to supporting Ukraine’s acquisition of Gripen and the Swedish authorities in replacing the donated aircraft.”
Among modern Western combat aircraft, the Gripen has long been viewed by Ukrainian military planners as one of the most suitable platforms for wartime operations against Russia.
Unlike many Western fighters that rely heavily on large, sophisticated air bases, the Gripen was specifically designed during the Cold War to operate under conditions where traditional runways might be destroyed by enemy strikes. Sweden developed the aircraft with dispersed operations in mind, anticipating a potential conflict with the Soviet Union.
As a result, the Gripen can take off and land from short stretches of highway, public roads, small civilian airports, and improvised airstrips. This capability is particularly attractive to Ukraine, whose air bases remain frequent targets of Russian missile and drone attacks.
The aircraft is also known for relatively low operating costs compared with larger Western fighters. Its maintenance requirements are modest, and it can be serviced by small ground crews operating from austere locations.
A Ukrainian pilot known by the call sign “Karaya” previously described the aircraft as the “ideal option” for Ukraine. Such is the aircraft’s reputation among some Ukrainian aviators that he remarked the Gripen was the only fighter jet in the world he would “sell his soul for.”
The Gripen E/F represents the latest evolution of Saab’s fighter program and incorporates numerous technological upgrades over earlier versions.
The aircraft features an advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, cutting-edge electronic warfare systems, and a sophisticated infrared search-and-track (IRST) sensor. Together, these systems enable pilots to detect, track, and engage multiple targets simultaneously at long distances while maintaining high situational awareness in contested environments.
The fighter is capable of conducting air superiority missions, reconnaissance operations, and precision ground attacks within the same sortie. Its sensor fusion architecture combines information from multiple onboard and external sources, presenting pilots with a comprehensive picture of the battlefield.
Equally important, the Gripen E/F is fully compatible with NATO-standard weapons, allowing Ukraine to integrate existing Western munitions already supplied by allied nations.
These include AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles, and precision-guided strike weapons such as Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs).
For Ukraine, this flexibility would provide the ability not only to defend its airspace but also to strike Russian military targets with increased precision and effectiveness.
Perhaps the most significant aspect of the Gripen package is the potential integration of the Meteor missile.
Widely regarded as one of the most advanced air-to-air missiles in service today, Meteor offers engagement ranges exceeding 200 kilometers and can travel at speeds above Mach 4. The missile was specifically designed to outperform earlier generations of beyond-visual-range weapons, including the widely used AIM-120 AMRAAM.
Unlike conventional rocket-powered missiles, Meteor employs a sophisticated ramjet propulsion system that allows it to maintain high energy and maneuverability throughout its flight. This capability dramatically expands its so-called “no-escape zone” — the area within which a target aircraft has little chance of evading interception.
According to manufacturer data, Meteor’s no-escape zone exceeds 60 kilometers, making it one of the most lethal air-to-air missiles currently available.
The missile’s variable-thrust ramjet engine enables it to conserve fuel during the initial phase of flight before increasing power during terminal engagement. This ensures the missile arrives at its target with substantial remaining energy, allowing it to pursue maneuvering aircraft more effectively than many conventional systems.
Meteor is capable of engaging a wide range of targets, including fighter aircraft, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and other airborne threats, even in environments characterized by intense electronic warfare and jamming.
For Kyiv, the importance of acquiring Meteor-equipped Gripens extends beyond air superiority.
Russia has increasingly relied on glide bombs launched from stand-off distances exceeding 100 kilometers. Aircraft such as the Su-34 and Su-35 can release these weapons while remaining outside the engagement envelope of many Ukrainian air defense systems.
In a statement posted on social media following the announcement, President Zelenskyy emphasized that aerial bombs remain one of Ukraine’s most pressing battlefield challenges.
He noted that Russian forces launch thousands of such bombs every month against Ukrainian positions and population centers in regions including Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, and Sumy.
According to Zelenskyy, Gripen fighters armed with Meteor missiles could force Russian aircraft to operate farther from the front line, reducing their ability to conduct mass glide-bomb attacks.
Defense experts agree that a Gripen-Meteor combination would provide Ukraine with one of the most formidable air-to-air capabilities currently available outside the United States.
Beyond its immediate battlefield implications, the agreement could also reshape the future of Saab’s Gripen program. The potential acquisition of dozens of Gripen E/F aircraft by Ukraine would represent one of the fighter’s largest export opportunities and could strengthen its position in a highly competitive global market dominated by the F-35 and Rafale.
