Strategic partnership between Kyiv and Stockholm includes aircraft transfer, training, and technological cooperation in the defense sector
Sweden has agreed to sell more than one hundred modern JAS 39 Gripen E fighter jets to Ukraine, marking a new milestone in military cooperation between the two nations.
+ Sweden advances with program to produce next-generation combat aircraft
The announcement was formalized through the signing of a declaration of intent on defense cooperation, signed by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The document lays the foundation for a broad strategic partnership that includes aircraft acquisition, maintenance, pilot training, and defense technology exchange.
A leap forward for the Ukrainian Air Force
The Gripen E, developed by Saab, represents the most advanced version of the Swedish multirole fighter. The model combines high maneuverability, low operating costs, and combat efficiency, designed to operate from short runways and under harsh conditions — a valuable feature for Ukrainian operations.
The aircraft is equipped with a more powerful engine, a modern AESA radar, next-generation avionics, and an enhanced weapon control system. The Gripen E will also be capable of carrying long-range Meteor missiles — capable of striking targets beyond visual range — and IRIS-T missiles for short-range engagements.
According to military sources, the implementation of this project will significantly strengthen the Ukrainian Air Force, accelerating the modernization of its air capabilities and improving interoperability with Western allies.
Background and training
In 2023, it was revealed that Ukrainian pilots had already been testing JAS 39 Gripen jets in Sweden. Then-Defense Minister Paul Johnson stated that pilots were also training on advanced simulators, contributing to future decisions on Ukraine’s air defense strategy.
Sweden’s Armed Forces, in turn, only recently — in October 2025 — received the first of sixty new Gripen E jets ordered in 2013.
Source and images: Militarnyi | Instagram: @zelenskyy_official | @kristerssonulf. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
