The Swedish government has outlined a potential major export deal to provide Ukraine with Saab Gripen fighters.
In the presence of visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Saab’s facilities in Linköping, southern Sweden, on 22 October 2025, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated, “I am proud to have welcomed President Zelenskyy to Sweden and Linköping. Today we have signed an important Letter of Intent, marking a step towards a massive possible export deal regarding Gripen – likely between 100 and 150 fighter jets – to build a new and very strong Ukrainian Air Force. President Zelenskyy also got the chance to see first hand the impressive capabilities of the Gripen fighter. This will strengthen both Ukraine, Sweden and Europe.”
As well as supplying Gripens, the Swedish-Ukrainian co-operation will include exchange of experience and knowledge on air combat and defence and on the use of advanced capabilities in these areas.
“Ukraine has unique experience of air combat and defence that Sweden can harness. Correspondingly, Sweden has experience of developing and operating advanced systems such as JAS 39 Gripen,” a press release from the Swedish prime minister’s office stated.
Writing on his X social media account on 22 October, President Zelenskyy stated, “We greatly value our relations with Sweden and all forms of support for our people. And today, one of the key topics of our negotiations was strengthening Ukraine’s defence capabilities. We consider the JAS 39 Gripen aircraft to be one of the most effective elements of this effort and count on the first deliveries of Gripens already in 2026.”
Such early Gripen deliveries are likely to involve ex-Swedish Air Force (SwAF) Gripen C/Ds. However, the sheer number of Gripens to potentially be acquired – up to 150 – inevitably means that subsequent deliveries will be of Saab’s latest-generation Gripen E.
On 20 October, two days before Zelenskyy’s visit to Sweden, the SwAF accepted into service its first Gripen E. Sixty of these have been ordered for the SwAF, which currently retains a fleet of 71 Gripen Cs and 23 Gripen Ds. When the Swedish government decided in February 2013 to acquire 60 next-generation Gripens, the original plan was to achieve this through upgrading Gripen C/Ds. However, it was subsequently decided that the Gripen C/Ds would be retained to preserve the combat mass of the SwAF, while the Gripen Es would be new-build aircraft.
In April 2022 the Swedish defence procurement agency (FMV) announced that all of the SwAF’s Gripen C/Ds would be upgraded to keep them operationally relevant until 2035. Forty Gripen C/Ds are to be retained by the SwAF once the 60 Gripen Es have entered service, for a total fleet of 100 Gripens altogether. This would potentially leave 54 Gripen C/Ds available for Ukraine as the Gripen Es enter SwAF service under current plans – which could, of course, now change.
There might also be older Gripens held in storage.
While the Ukrainian Air Force currently operates older Lockheed Martin F-16A fighters donated by European air forces converting to the Lockheed Martin F-35 (58 F-16s were pledged), the Gripen has often been touted as an ideal solution for Ukraine, as it is considered very capable, easier to fly and can operate from highways in what NATO terms Agile Combat Employment (ACE). This could make the aircraft less susceptible to Russian aerial attack while they are on the ground.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson at Saab’s facilities in Linköping, southern Sweden, on 22 October 2025. The supply of Gripens could be transformational for the Ukrainian Air Force. (via X account of V Zelenskyy)