Sweden Moves Closer to Supplying Ukraine with Gripen-E Fighter Jets

Ukraine is getting closer to acquiring Swedish Gripen-E fighter jets as part of its long-running effort to modernize its air fleet with fourth-generation combat aircraft capable of operating from rugged and improvised airstrips.

Ukrainian and Swedish officials announced Oct. 22 the signing of a letter of intent for the export of up to 150 aircraft to Kyiv, a move that could give Ukraine a significant advantage against missile and electronic-warfare threats.

Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson said Ukraine had requested between 100 and 150 aircraft, specifically in the latest E variant, and that the Stockholm government was assessing different long-term mechanisms to finance such a large order.

During a press conference in Linköping, the hub for Swedish aerospace company Saab, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated that the first Gripen deliveries could begin within approximately three years.

“We are talking about the latest generation, which was literally recently presented in Sweden, production is just beginning here. Therefore, we are talking about three years in practice,” Kristersson said on Wednesday.

Building and delivering 150 units to Ukraine could take ten years or more, he added.

Earlier this week, the Swedish Air Force F7 Wing became the first operational unit to receive and operate the Gripen E.

The E variant is the most advanced in the Gripen family of aircraft and is equipped with state-of-the-art electronic warfare systems and next-generation avionics, according to Saab.

For Kyiv, the jets could be particularly valuable amid the ongoing conflict, as dispersed aerial operations have become essential. The Gripen-E can operate from shorter and more austere runways, providing flexibility under wartime conditions.

It would also enable the Ukrainian Air Force to conduct both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions over longer distances and with heavier payloads, strengthening its overall combat capability.

Source: defensenews