Sweden specifies timeline for delivering Gripen E jets to Ukraine
Photo: Ulf Kristersson, Prime Minister of Sweden (Getty Images)
Ukraine will receive its first Gripen fighter jets from Sweden within three years, stated Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson during a press briefing in Sweden.
He emphasized that Ukraine will receive the latest generation of Gripen jets, recently unveiled in Sweden, and that production is just beginning.
"So we are talking approximately about three years — that's when we can start deliveries. And we cannot deliver all 150 aircraft in a single batch. Deliveries will be possible over the next three years," Kristersson said.
Gripen for Ukraine
Sweden will sell Ukraine 120–150 modern Saab JAS 39 Gripen E fighter jets, with production already underway. The overall process is expected to take around 10–15 years.
Kristersson highlighted that Sweden and Ukraine have already signed a memorandum of intent. The number of jets involved is twice as large as Sweden's largest export order to date.
During his visit to Sweden, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that the Swedish Gripen fighters are among the best in the world.
In 2023, Sweden allowed Ukrainian pilots to train on Gripen jets. Later, the Swedish parliament approved the delivery of these aircraft to Ukraine.
However, on May 28, 2024, Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson stated that Western countries had asked Stockholm to wait with transferring the Gripens, as the focus at that time was on bringing F-16 fighters into service in Ukraine.
