Sweden vows 16 Gripens for Ukraine, with newer jets to follow
Ukraine and Sweden have signed a declaration on deeper defense cooperation under which the Ukrainian military will receive 16 Jas 39 C/D Gripen fighter jets, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced the move at a news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The aircraft will be delivered at the start of 2027. By then, Ukraine aims to form its first Gripen squadron.
“Yes, this will strengthen Ukraine’s air defense and Europe’s air protection. Ukrainian pilots have already flown Gripen fighters, and you told us that this is an enormously significant change,” the Swedish prime minister said.
Zelenskyy said the aircraft will help Ukraine fight Russian guided aerial bombs because the fighters will be provided together with the weapons package needed for that mission.
Ukraine will also buy up to 22 aircraft of the newer Jas 39 Gripen E version by 2030. Zelenskyy said those jets will be paid for using the EU’s 90 billion-euro loan, which Ukraine’s parliament ratified earlier today.
The newly signed agreement is the next step after the letter of intent signed last year. That earlier document provided for the purchase of 100 to 150 new Gripen fighter jets for Ukraine. This time, Zelenskyy stressed that the full number would be bought in stages.
A day earlier, the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet reported that Sweden would announce the transfer of several Jas 39 C/D aircraft to Ukraine on May 28.
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