Sweden and Ukraine have finalized a 24.6-billion-krona ($2.53-billion) intergovernmental agreement to procure 16 Saab JAS 39 Gripen E fighter jets for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The agreement also includes support services and a training package, with deliveries scheduled for 2029 and 2030. Ukraine is expected to place the order in the third quarter of 2026.
Following the agreement, Sweden will proceed with the donation of 16 Gripen C/D fighters to Kyiv, with deliveries expected to begin in early 2027.
Under a package announced by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in May, Ukraine was to acquire up to 20 Gripen E/F aircraft, while Sweden committed to donating 16 Gripen C/D jets.
The Gripen E acquisition is expected to be financed through the EU’s Ukraine Support Loan, with Sweden’s donation of 16 Gripen C/D aircraft contingent on Ukraine proceeding with the purchase.
The donation package also includes advanced air-to-air munitions, which may include IRIS-T missiles, AIM-120 AMRAAMs, and MBDA Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles.
It marks the first step in Ukraine’s long-term plan to acquire up to 150 Gripen fighters, helping build a modern air force that is interoperable with NATO allies.
“I am deeply proud that Sweden and Saab can now enable the provision of Gripen E to Ukraine, bringing a world-class fighter that will transform the Ukrainian Air Force’s capability,” Saab President and CEO Micael Johansson said.
“This will significantly strengthen Ukraine’s air defence and help ensure the nation can protect its people and safeguard its future.”
British Industrial Participation
The Gripen is built with significant industrial participation from the UK and the US, with over 30 percent of each aircraft manufactured in the UK.
The UK Ministry of Defence said key parts of the aircraft will be manufactured in Britain, supporting more than 5,000 UK jobs.
More than 50 UK-based companies, including Saab UK in Fareham and Leonardo UK in Edinburgh, supply critical components such as the radar and landing gear.
“This deal is both a big boost for Ukraine’s air power and a show of confidence in our world-leading UK defence industry, supporting thousands of good British jobs here at home,” UK Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard said.
JAS 39 Gripen
The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a light, single-engine multirole fighter designed for high operational flexibility. Featuring a delta wing, fly-by-wire controls, and modern avionics, it can operate from short runways, highways, and other dispersed locations with minimal logistical support.
The latest Gripen E/F variant is equipped with an active electronically scanned array radar, an infrared search-and-track system, an electronic warfare suite, and secure datalinks. It can carry up to 7,200 kilograms (15,873 pounds) of weapons across multiple hardpoints.
Powered by a General Electric F414 afterburning turbofan engine, the aircraft reaches speeds of up to Mach 2 (2,470 kilometers/1,535 miles per hour), has a range of 2,200 nautical miles (4,074 kilometers/2,532 miles), and a service ceiling of 16,000 meters (52,493 feet).
Weapons include a 27-millimeter internal cannon, MBDA Meteor, IRIS-T, and AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, as well as guided bombs, air-to-surface missiles, and anti-ship missiles.
