Sweden officially committed 16 Gripen C/D fighter jets to Ukraine on Thursday, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy standing at the Uppsala air base when Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson made the announcement. Ukraine also reached agreement to acquire up to 20 of the newest Gripen E/F model jets, funded by a €2.5 billion EU loan, with deliveries expected from 2030. The deal is part of Sweden's 22nd military aid package to Ukraine, totaling 25.2 billion kronor, and includes long-range Meteor air-to-air missiles capable of engaging targets more than 120 kilometers away.
View on X: Zelenskyy announces his Sweden visit and the Gripen fighter jet deal — @ZelenskyyUa
What Sweden Announced at Uppsala
The 16 Gripen C/D aircraft being donated are currently in active service with the Swedish Air Force. Deliveries to Ukraine are expected to begin in early 2027, pending a finalized purchase agreement and Swedish export approvals. The newer Gripen E/F jets, Ukraine's target acquisition, are a more advanced variant produced by SAAB. The Swedish government said the aim is to quickly conclude a final agreement with deliveries from 2030.
Kristersson said at the joint press conference: "Gripen is the best and optimal choice for Ukraine. Today, we take the next major step on this joint journey."
"We are preparing a major defense package for Ukraine and a strong step regarding Gripen fighter jets, which will definitely make our combat aviation more effective." — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Uppsala, May 28
Why the Gripen Changes Ukraine's Air War
Ukraine has been flying Soviet-era MiG-29s and Su-27s alongside a limited number of donated F-16s from Western partners. The Gripen is a qualitative step forward in several key areas. It is designed for short-takeoff-and-landing operations from dispersed, improvised airstrips, a critical capability in a theater where Russian strikes target fixed Ukrainian air bases.
The Gripen also carries the Meteor missile, manufactured by European consortium MBDA. With a no-escape zone estimated at more than 120 kilometers, the Meteor significantly extends Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian aircraft, including the Su-34 strike jets launching glide bombs at Ukrainian cities from standoff distances. Zelenskyy confirmed Thursday that the Meteor missiles are included in the deal.
The Scale of Sweden's Commitment
Sweden's 22nd military aid package, announced alongside the Gripen deal, totals 25.2 billion kronor. The two countries signed a letter of intent in October 2025 covering Ukraine's potential purchase of 100 to 150 Gripen E aircraft as a long-term goal. Thursday's announcement is the first concrete delivery agreement from that framework.
Sweden joined NATO in March 2024 after two years of negotiations and has consistently ranked among the most proportional European contributors to Ukraine's defense relative to its GDP. The SAAB corporation confirmed the acquisition steps in an official press release, calling it a sign that "Ukraine and Sweden take steps towards Ukrainian Gripen acquisition."
Ukraine's Air Force at Three Years of War
Ukraine entered the full-scale invasion in February 2022 with a Soviet-era air force and has been fighting against Russian aviation with aging platforms ever since. The F-16 deliveries, which began in 2024, represented the first Western fighter jets in Ukrainian service. The Gripen agreement extends that trajectory.
Western fighter jets equipped with Meteor missiles will give Ukraine's air force the capability to challenge Russian aircraft at ranges Russian pilots did not previously have to account for. Ukrainian drone operators have already proven the ability to strike deep inside Russian territory. A credible air-superiority threat closes a gap that has existed since the invasion began.
The 16 Gripen C/D aircraft are scheduled to arrive in early 2027. The agreement for up to 20 Gripen E aircraft, the newer model, sets a delivery target of 2030 and is funded by the EU loan instrument Ukraine secured in 2025.
Sources
- Sweden Just Put Gripen on Ukraine's Flight Path With 16 Fighters and a New Jet Deal — United 24 Media
- Sweden Announces 16 Gripens for Ukraine. Here's Why That's a Big Deal — Kyiv Independent
- Ukraine to Buy Up to 20 Latest Model Gripen Jet Fighters, Sweden to Donate 16 — Euronews
- Ukraine and Sweden Take Steps Towards Ukrainian Gripen Acquisition — SAAB Official
- Ukraine to Acquire Up to 20 Gripen Fighter Jets — Breaking Defense
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