Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Sweden has agreed to sell Ukraine between 100 and 150 modern Saab JAS 39 Gripen E fighter jets. Experts note that Zelensky’s trip to Sweden was one of the most effective in his last year in office and exceeded all expectations. At a press conference, Zelensky emphasized that Swedish fighter jets are among the best in the world and fit organically into the structure of the Ukrainian Air Force.
Ukraine and Sweden have signed a declaration of intent on cooperation in the defense sector. The document was signed by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The agreement paves the way for expanding the strategic partnership between the countries, which covers not only the purchase of aircraft, but also potential technical maintenance, pilot training, and the exchange of experience in the field of defense technologies.
According to Yuriy Ignat, head of communications, Gripen aircraft are optimal both in terms of pilot training (familiarization flights already took place in 2023) and tactical and economic characteristics. A flight hour on a Gripen is significantly cheaper than on an F-35, and they can be used from dirt roads, not just military airfields. Zelensky emphasized that Swedish fighter jets are among the best in the world and fit organically into the structure of the Ukrainian Air Force.
Who is financing the sale of Gripen aircraft to Ukraine?
Immediately after the agreement, information appeared about where the Swedes want to find the money for Ukraine to pay for these fighter jets—from frozen Russian assets. This was stated by Swedish Defense Minister Paul Jonsson.
One Gripen fighter jet costs approximately $85 million. An order for 100 aircraft will cost $8.5 billion.
As is well known, there is ongoing debate in the European Union about how Ukraine should spend this money, if an agreement can be reached on it.
Governments disagree on whether to urge Kyiv to purchase weapons from Europe rather than the US… Some leaders insist that giving preference to European manufacturers should be a mandatory condition, while others question whether the EU has the right to tell a country at war where to buy weapons,” writes Politico.
For its part, Ukraine opposes such restrictions and demands freedom to dispose of these assets, Reuters reports. The money, the publication notes, is needed to purchase weapons from any country, repair damage caused by Russian attacks, and pay compensation to victims.
Part of the loan will be used for cooperation with European defense companies, but Ukraine demands autonomy in spending the funds.
When will aircraft deliveries begin?
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson believes it is possible to start supplying Gripen aircraft to Ukraine within three years.
According to Kristersson, the first step should be to jointly consider all available options for long-term financing of Ukraine. In this context, he mentioned discussions on the use of frozen Russian assets.
“This is the latest generation, which was recently presented in Sweden. Production is just beginning here. So we are talking about three years of practice. That is when we will be able to start deliveries,” Kristersson said at a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Linköping.
He also stressed that it is impossible to deliver all 150 aircraft in one batch, as it will be a lengthy process.
How many used JAS 39 Gripen C/D aircraft can Ukraine receive if deliveries begin in 2026?
It is likely that Ukraine will receive not only new Gripen E aircraft, but also used Gripen C/D aircraft, as the delivery of the first aircraft is expected to take place within a very short time frame.
Given that Ukraine and Sweden have signed a long-term contract, which is a historic event, it can now be said that Ukraine may receive a certain number of used aircraft of previous modifications in the short term.
At least, this cautious conclusion can be drawn from a post by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which states that “we are counting on 150 such aircraft for Ukraine, and the first ones should arrive next year.”
I would like to note that Sweden officially received its first Gripen E only this year, despite the fact that the aircraft were ordered back in January 2013, and according to preliminary plans, the delivery of 60 aircraft was to take place between 2018 and 2027. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stressed that if the contract is signed, the first Gripen E aircraft could be delivered to Ukraine within three years.
The current production rate for Gripen at the Saab plant in Linköping is only 12 aircraft per year. And despite plans to localize production in other countries and increase production accordingly (in particular, it was recently reported that Saab is already evaluating the possibility of creating a new Gripen production center for Ukraine), it is more likely that we are talking about a gradual increase in the production rate for these fighter jets.
Therefore, a plan under which Sweden will begin transferring used JAS 39 Gripen C/D aircraft next year, which will be decommissioned as new Gripen E aircraft are delivered to the Swedish Armed Forces, seems entirely realistic.
And so, while all the processes for supplying the Ukrainian Armed Forces with new Gripen E aircraft are being finalized, our combat aviation will already be replenished with one or two squadrons of older, but still combat-capable modifications of these Swedish aircraft.
What is known about the JAS 39 Gripen E
The JAS 39 Gripen E is the latest version of the Swedish multi-role fighter developed by Saab.
It combines maneuverability, economy, and high efficiency in combat conditions. The model is equipped with a more powerful engine, which provides greater flight range, as well as an improved weapon control system. In addition, the aircraft has modern radar and advanced electronics, which increases its ability to detect and destroy targets.
The Gripen E is capable of operating from short runways and easily adapts to different combat conditions, making it particularly valuable for Ukraine’s defense. The implementation of this project will be an important step in the modernization of the Ukrainian Air Force and will significantly strengthen cooperation between Kyiv and Stockholm in the field of security.
Back in 2023, it became known that Ukrainian Air Force pilots were testing Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets. Swedish Defense Minister Paul Johnson said that Ukrainian pilots would also undergo training on simulators.
The main missiles for the Gripen E will be long-range Meteor missiles, which can only be used by specially upgraded C/D variants to destroy targets beyond visual range, and IRIS-T missiles for close-range combat.
