Ukraine has taken an important step in the modernization of its Air Force by signing a contract with Sweden for the purchase of 16 Gripen E fighter jets, considered the most advanced version of the aircraft produced by Saab. The agreement provides for deliveries to begin in 2029 and includes spare parts, equipment, logistical and technical support.
At the same time, Ukrainian pilots and maintenance teams are already being trained in Sweden to operate the new platform, while the first 16 Gripen C/D jets, previously promised by Stockholm, are expected to arrive in the country in early 2027 to accelerate operational adaptation.
The contract, signed between Saab and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), is valued at around 24.6 billion Swedish kronor, equivalent to approximately US$2.5 billion. According to the manufacturer, the Gripen E was designed to operate in high-threat environments, being able to take off and land on highways and improvised runways, while requiring little maintenance and allowing rapid software updates. These characteristics align with Ukraine’s needs, as the country already uses dispersed bases to reduce the vulnerability of its aircraft to Russian attacks.
Compared with the Gripen C/D, the Gripen E offers significant advances, including greater fuel capacity, a more powerful engine, a fully redesigned cockpit and a Leonardo ES-05 Raven AESA radar, capable of detecting targets with greater range and precision, including drones and cruise missiles flying at low altitude. The aircraft can also carry up to seven long-range Meteor air-to-air missiles, considered among the most advanced in the world, in addition to featuring a modern electronic warfare system and resources that allow the rapid integration of new technologies and weapons.
The arrival of the Gripen C/D and Gripen E jets is expected to represent a transformation for Ukrainian combat aviation, which still relies mainly on Soviet-origin fighters such as the MiG-29. Integrated with Saab 340 AEW&C airborne early warning aircraft equipped with Erieye radar, also supplied by Sweden, the new aircraft will expand Ukraine’s ability to detect threats, coordinate interceptions and carry out precision strikes.
The Ukrainian government is still evaluating a significant expansion of this fleet in the future, with long-term plans that could include between 100 and 150 Gripen jets, although this goal remains only an intention at this stage.
Together with Sweden, we continue strengthening Ukraine’s combat aviation. Today, our countries signed an agreement for the procurement of 16 Gripen E fighter jets. Importantly, the aircraft will come with a package of related equipment, technical assistance, and support. In… pic.twitter.com/yqynTWOzYM
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 30, 2026
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Source: Militarnyi / The War Zone | Photos: SAAB | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
