President Zelenskyy and Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson have signed a deal which clears the way in which for Ukraine to accumulate between 100 and 150 Saab Gripen fighter plane.
In a joint press convention held in entrance of a Gripen E plane at Saab’s facility in Linkoping, the 2 leaders introduced the mutual signing of a defence cooperation settlement. One a part of the settlement confirms Ukraine’s intent to modernise and increase its air drive with doubtlessly over 100 Saab Gripen multirole fighter plane. This might characterize Sweden’s largest ever export order, and see the Ukrainian Air Drive function an identical variety of the Swedish-designed and constructed plane to Sweden’s personal air drive.
No closing selections have but been taken, with PM Kristersson estimating a timeframe of three years for the supply of new-build airframes. Zelenskyy, given the pressing scenario in his nation, wish to see plane delivered from 2026 – which may sign the opportunity of the switch of legacy Gripen C/D airframes forward of recent Gripen E/F jets.
Ukrainian pilots have already check flown Gripen airframes in Sweden, starting way back to 2023.
As we speak, we’re opening a completely new and actually significant chapter in our relationships—relations between Ukraine and Sweden, and extra broadly, total safety relations in Europe.
As we speak, we now have the primary doc signed between our international locations, paving the way in which for Ukraine to accumulate… pic.twitter.com/y23ouunOyY
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 22, 2025
The Gripen has lengthy been advised as a powerful choice for the rebuilding of Ukraine’s air drive each throughout and publish battle. Particularly designed to correspond with Swedish doctrine of working from makeshift ahead working places, the jet has good short-field efficiency and relatively easy upkeep necessities. The Gripen E/F, first delivered to the Swedish Air Drive solely days in the past, builds on its predecessor with elevated vary and payload, new avionics, and a nicely regarded digital warfare (EW) package deal.
I’m proud to have welcomed President Zelenskyy to Sweden and Linköping.
As we speak we now have signed an essential Letter of Intent, marking a step in the direction of a large doable export deal concerning Gripen – probably between 100 and 150 fighter jets, to construct a brand new and really robust… pic.twitter.com/ObUPKxdxfJ
— Ulf Kristersson (@SwedishPM) October 22, 2025
Talking on the press convention, Kristersson stated: “We absolutely realise it’s an extended highway forward of us, however from right now we’re dedicated to exploring all the probabilities in offering Ukraine with a considerable amount of Gripen fighters sooner or later.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reaffirmed his ambition to see the jets in service as quickly as doable. “For our military, Gripens are a precedence. It’s about cash, about manoeuvres,” he advised gathered reporters. Via his official social media channels he added: “We think about the JAS 39 Gripen plane to be some of the efficient parts of this effort and depend on the primary deliveries of Gripens already in 2026.”
An essential assembly with the @SwedishPM Ulf Kristersson. We significantly worth our relationships with Sweden and all types of assist for our individuals. And right now, one of many key subjects of our negotiations was strengthening Ukraine’s protection capabilities. We think about the JAS 39 Gripen… pic.twitter.com/iW5BxkSF6w
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 22, 2025
Among the many particulars but to be finalized is the funding for Ukraine’s order, which given the variety of jets meant to be procured will characterize a big expense and one which Ukraine would possibly battle to seek out the funds for by itself with struggle nonetheless raging.
The Gripens will be part of F-16 Preventing Falcons and Dassault Mirage 2000s in Ukraine’s stock because the nation progressively strikes away from a Soviet/Russian derived fleet, which might now not be supported by their unique producers. The complete order of 100 Gripens would characterize a large improve in Ukraine’s tactical air energy even by numbers alone, with essentially the most quite a few kind at present in service – the Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29 – numbering solely round 45 airframes as compared.
Nonetheless, with Saab’s present manufacturing capability it should probably be some years earlier than plans for a fleet of Gripens of that dimension will be realised.
