Will Ukraine receive the latest version of Gripen jets? Sweden’s response

According to the Swedish minister, the most effective approach would be to develop joint capabilities for the Air Force and air defense around the Gripen Echo fighters, which are the latest version and have very strong electronic warfare capabilities.

"And I know there is an interest on the Ukrainian side," Pål Jonson noted.

He emphasized that the necessary steps need to be taken together with Ukraine, "it would be good for Ukraine. It would be good for Sweden. And it would be good for Europe." However, no exact start date for deliveries has been set.

Gripen aircraft

The Gripen E (Saab JAS 39E) is a modern multirole fighter. The aircraft is designed to carry out missions in the air, on land, and at sea — from intercepting targets to delivering precision strikes.

It was also specifically built to operate with limited infrastructure: it can take off from short runways, including roads or temporary strips, which is critically important during wartime.

Its electronic‑warfare systems and the modern AESA Raven ES‑05 radar allow it to effectively counter enemy fighters and air‑defense systems.

The Gripen can also employ Western Meteor beyond‑visual‑range air‑to‑air missiles with a range of over 100 km — giving it an advantage over most Russian‑made aircraft.

Gripen for Ukraine

Two years ago, in 2023, Sweden allowed Ukrainian pilots to train on Gripen multirole fighters. At the same time, in late February, the Swedish parliament approved the delivery of the aircraft to Ukraine.

However, on May 28, 2024, Sweden’s Minister of Defense Pål Jonson stated that Western countries had asked Stockholm to "wait" with the transfer of Gripen, as at that time the main focus was supposedly on bringing F‑16 fighters into service in Ukraine.

This year, Sweden provided its Gripen fighters for the first time to participate in a NATO operation on the territory of another country — specifically, for patrolling Poland’s airspace.