Sweden and Ukraine eye export deal for up to 150 fighter jets • FRANCE 24 English

Well, meanwhile, the Ukrainian president Vladimir Zalinski is touring his European allies. He met the Swedish prime minister today and both leaders signed a cooperation deal. Well, joining me on set now is our international affairs editor, Douglas Herbert. Uh Doug, what do we know about this deal then? What’s it about? Well, what’s about the beginning of a potentially massive airport export deal? Uh aircraft export deal. It would be these uh fighter jets. They’re called Grippin. They’re produced by Sweden Saab. Um the Swedish government would essentially be buying them from Saab and then supplying them to Ukraine. And the order calls for um you know within the next three years or so ramping up production of these jets. It’s a fourth generation of these jets um to perhaps 100 to 150 of them sending them on to Ukraine. The Grippin are basically uh when I said their fourth generation they’ve been around a while um but they were really deployed in combat. um this new generation for the first time this year actually Thailand in its confrontation with uh Cambodia and what they are is they’re used in aerial uh com air-to-air combat um sort of aerial bombardment missions also reconnaissance missions it’s everything really the type of um of jet aircraft the jet fighters that Ukraine needs for its future air force especially at a time where it’s really more and more up against it in the face of uh higher technology types of Russian attacks greater swarms of drones and missiles almost night after night at this point coming from Russian. It’s the type of deal uh that European countries have now been sort of hardressed to try to step up to the plate and provide because as you see Donald Trump’s been stepping back uh from the Ukrainian uh front no longer directly supplying uh Ukraine and rather controlling you might use the word bullying the Europeans to buy the weapons from US stockpiles and then supply them on uh that is to Ukraine. So the Europeans have really been taking on the brunt and within Europe itself, the Nordic countries such as Sweden, which let’s not forget just joined NATO last year, 2024. It’s a new member of NATO, uh really trying to step up uh as part in this long-term cooperation agreement. Like I said, it’s the beginning. They’ve signed a letter of intent which really starts the whole process. Um Saab is going to have to ramp up its production of these jets, maybe in over the next couple years, producing 20 to 30 of them a year. I think the initial productions already 60 are in the pipeline. Like I said, up to 100 to 150 of them. It’s a big deal. Perhaps Sweden’s biggest airport aircraft export deal ever. And I’ll just mention, he was in Norway before this. It’s a swing of of the Nordic countries. Norway is donating almost $150 million to Ukraine for uh natural gas to help it with electricity and heating through what’s expected to be a very cold and and difficult winter.

Ukrainian and Swedish leaders signed a cooperation deal, which would see Sweden buy fighter jets from its domestic company Saad before exporting them to Ukraine. The deal is a further sign of European countries moving to boost Kyiv’s defences in its war against Russia. FRANCE 24’s Douglas Herbert looks into what is meant by that cooperation agreement.
#Ukraine #Sweden #MilitaryAid

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50 comments

  4. Gripen (pronounced with a long "i") is specifically designed for defence against Russia with its ability to operate from standard roads in case the air bases are taken out. I am very proud of what the engineers at SAAB have created, one of the best fighters in the world!
    They will probably not be delivered in time to make a change in this war, but will certainly help to prevent a new attack from Russia in a couple of years.

  9. NOT a ”fourth generation” airplane. This is the Gripen E we are talking about. It has most of the earmarks for what is considered the 6th generation fighter. Not that it matters, as ”5th generation” is a Lockheed Martin bs moniker made up for trying to sell more…

  10. It's a sign that Europe and Ukraine are less and less dependent on America for their defense. About 74% of the weapons used by Ukraine are made in Ukraine or supplied by Europe. That's why no one was panicking after last Friday like they did in February. I think the whole meeting between Trump and Putin was put on hold under pressure of Europe.

  13. Zelensky reminds me of another desperate European leader ( now deceased ) who foolishly believed miracle weapons would save his country and keep him in power…..missiles, jets, tanks ects when in all reality he was beaten and could never win he believed only in his delusions, he never made peace, and took his people and country into the darkest depths of the abyss.

  14. All this hype about the “fifth generation” is just a Lockheed Martin sales pitch designed to crush competitors. Saab has moved on — they’ve ditched the whole generation concept. The Gripen isn’t bound by that; it’s a generationless fighter, a flying smartphone with independent software for its avionics. Even the F-35 doesn’t have that. It’s heavy, outdated, and stuck inside its own body.

  15. Important cooperation for both Sweden and Ukraine. Ukraine has unique data and experience that could be used in the Gripen E AI model. And both countries have been making air planes for a long time.
    I hope Canada also get on board the Gripen project, they would also be a valuable partner for this platform and the upcoming models.

  17. Ukraine has no money, European taxpayer will pay for it. And ukraine has no personnel to fly these are also without weapons these do not mean anything and to use and maintain them is also a huge money

  20. Trump will veto the deal because the engines are made in the US and blackmail Ukraine into buying US planes that Europe will pay for. Trump is worse than a mafia boss and Europe needs to get rid of the US.

  21. “Sweden finds way to circumvent EU restrictions on direct government subsidies to local aircraft manufacturer and Ukraine gets a huge gift.” Kudos to the Swedes. It’s a huge amount of money if this goes through and with a national debt of only 32 % of the GDP, Sweden, unlike France, is able to afford it.

  22. Oh, selling jets a mass to Be destroyed to a destitute country is a vety profitable deal for Sweden. Go for it!

  27. Long live President Putin ❤❤❤ Long live President Putin Long live President Putin Long live President Putin 🙏. Long live the emperor

  30. The c/d was considered to be a gen 4.5 fighter. This is the Gripen E which is another beast entirely. I wish SAAB would rename them more often so brainless people understand that it is a new jet…

  33. A low maintenance multi purpose (JAS is the first letters in Swedish for Hunting, Attacking and Reconnaissance) is precisely the fighter jet that's needed in Ukraine.
    Short training for support crew, low personal need and extremely quick to service/re-arm/fuel/get back in the air for a different mission. They completely wiped the but of all other NATO jets in joint exercise in those last things, which matters when you're Ukraines shoes.

  35. In Sweden people sometimes say we should be more like the french,, who go on strike, protest and shut the country down, farmers on tractor parade, often with John Deere american tractors. I dont agree at all. Seems that the french people are not getting richer with their protests.. I wish the french people the best. We are allies. Heard the french have powerful communist unions. I did not join the labor union on my workplace, because it is supporting the social democratic party. We have extremist labor unions, but very small, can still make great damage to peoples lives.

  36. Can't wait to watch these jets get bodied, much like everything Ukraine does.

    Ukraine retreats from Povkrosk as we speak. 😊

  38. Finland should start donating their F18 are much better suited for Ukraine because there landing gears are reinforced for carrier operations this means they could be capable roadways, landings, and takeoff Swedens griten also have this capability

  40. Gripen E is a 4.5 or even higher ranked Jet… "Stealth" is getting out-gunned by intelligent sensors and linked systems between fighters. And lets not forget A.I.

  43. They say Gripen is not a 5th gen aircraft – but ppl underestimate the potential of Gripen E new systems, hyper modern stuff in it.

  44. Most people misunderstand this: Ukraine is not simply “waiting years” for Gripen. It’s a phased integration into the NATO air power structure.

    As Sweden transitions its air force to Gripen E, the existing Gripen C/D fleet will be released in stages.

    These C/D jets can be transferred to Ukraine progressively, synchronized with Sweden’s own deliveries — meaning Ukrainian pilots can start operating Gripens earlier than many assume.

    At the same time, Sweden and Saab are preparing a long-term partnership where Gripen E production capacity could be built up in Ukraine step by step.

    This is not just an arms transfer — it is the integration of Ukraine into the NATO defence ecosystem, with compatible aircraft, training, doctrine, logistics and industrial capability.

    This is how NATO power projection is extended eastward. It’s a strategic transition, not a future promise — and it begins the moment Sweden starts receiving its Gripen E fleet.

    Ukraine’s air power is becoming NATO air power. 😁

  50. Sweden being sweden…Always sweet at face… 😂😂 but at your back.. noone knows how much money they wish to make by selling these jets.. its a indirect way of making profit from the war.. but as long as you're sweet on face, everything is good.. 😂😂😂 Also, since it's Sweden, Ukraine will probably get these jets by 2040 or even later. 😅😅

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