Sweden allows sale of Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine, but only after war ends
Photo: Sweden’s Defense Minister Pål Jonson (Getty Images)
Sweden does not rule out selling modern Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine. However, this would only be possible after the war with Russia ends, states Sweden’s Defense Minister, Pål Jonson, according to Breaking Defense.
"We have a dialogue also with Ukraine, and since they certainly expressed an interest for the Gripen system … predominantly Gripen Echo, the new version that Sweden, Brazil are operating as well — a future sale is possible. That case … would be more of a long-term endeavor or building a common air force capability as well," said Hultqvist.
He emphasized that the delivery of aircraft directly depends on the end of the war in Ukraine.
At the same time, according to the Swedish minister, this condition does not apply to older Gripen C/D aircraft.
Sweden’s Defense Minister added that the transfer of Gripen C/D jets could be discussed and that he had spoken with his Ukrainian counterpart during his visit to Kyiv the previous week.
Gripen for Ukraine
As early as 2023, Sweden allowed Ukrainian pilots to be trained on Gripen multirole fighters. At the end of February, the Swedish parliament also approved the delivery of the aircraft to Ukraine.
However, in May 2024, Sweden’s Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist stated that Western countries had asked Stockholm to "hold off" on transferring the Gripen jets, as at that time the main focus was reportedly on introducing F-16 fighters into service in Ukraine.
Later, Sweden’s Foreign Minister Tobias Billström explained that his country had not delivered Gripen fighters to Ukraine because, according to him, Kyiv had concluded that operating two fighter systems simultaneously — both F-16s and Gripens — would be too much.
Recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine, together with Sweden, is preparing a new large-scale combat aviation project, which could be implemented over several decades.
