Zelenskyy stated during a joint press conference with King Carl XVI Gustaf that Kyiv wants to move forward this year with preparing pilots to operate the future fleet of Saab JAS 39 Gripen aircraft.
Ukraine expects its pilots to begin training on Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighters as early as 2026, marking another step in military cooperation between Kyiv and Stockholm. The statement was made by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a joint press conference with King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.
According to Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian government sees the advancement of the air defense strengthening program as a priority, especially regarding the future fleet of Swedish-made aircraft.
“We are grateful for the new program to strengthen the protection of our skies, regarding our future modern fleet of Swedish-made aircraft, the Gripen aircraft. We very much hope — we will speak about this today with His Majesty — that our pilots will begin training this year,” the president said.
Zelenskyy also highlighted Sweden’s role in supporting Ukraine militarily. According to him, Sweden is among the five largest donors of military aid to the Ukrainian Armed Forces in terms of resources allocated to the war effort.
In total, Sweden has pledged 80 billion Swedish kronor in military aid for the 2026–2027 period, equivalent to about $8.8 billion. This amount is close to the total military assistance provided between 2022 and 2025, which reached 88.1 billion kronor.
Gripen gains ground in Ukraine’s modernization plans
Plans for a future integration of Gripen fighters into Ukraine’s air force were made public in late October 2025, when then Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a declaration of intent for defense cooperation.
The agreement opened the way for expanded strategic partnership between the two countries. Discussions include the possible acquisition of 100 to 150 Saab JAS 39 Gripen E aircraft, as well as maintenance, pilot training, and defense technology knowledge exchange.
At the time of signing, Kristersson described the initiative as “the beginning of a long journey over the next 10 to 15 years,” indicating a long-term strategy to strengthen Ukraine’s capabilities.
In addition to potential aircraft purchases, both countries also reached understandings on local production of the Swedish fighters in Ukrainian territory. This production is expected to be largely localized starting in 2033.
Meteor missile enters discussions
By late 2025, Ukraine and Sweden also began discussing for the first time the training of Ukrainian pilots and technicians for future Gripen operations. In early 2026, reports emerged of negotiations involving the possible transfer of Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles, which could significantly enhance beyond-visual-range combat capability.
These developments show that cooperation between Kyiv and Stockholm goes beyond financial assistance and is expected to include broader training, technology transfer, and operational integration in the coming years.
Source and images: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, X @ZelenskyyUa. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
