Sweden and Ukraine on Oct. 22 signed a letter of intent for a future contract on the purchase of up to 150 modern Gripen E fighter jets to bolster the Ukrainian Air Force.
The announcement was made during President Volodymyr Zelensky’s official visit to Sweden, the second leg of his European tour following his visit to Norway.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson met Zelensky in the city of Linkoping — home to the defense company Saab, the producer of Gripen jets and other arms — where they signed a letter of intent for long-term defense cooperation between their countries.
While the agreement is not aimed at any immediate new donations, it provides for a major deal between Saab and Ukraine involving 100-150 Gripen E fighter jets, Kristersson clarified.
“This is the start of a long journey of 10-15 years,” the Swedish prime minister said in front of a parked Gripen E fighter jet.
The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a light 4.5-generation fighter jet that can be used for both defensive and offensive tasks. Kyiv and Stockholm have repeatedly discussed the possibility of supplying the aircraft to Ukraine’s Air Force, which already operates Western planes, including the Mirage 2000 and F-16.
The Gripen E version, which the Swedish Air Force started using just in October, boasts a more powerful engine, avionics, and radar. Ukraine hopes to make the plane the future backbone of its Air Force.
Zelensky said that Ukraine aims to purchase at least 100 Gripen fighter jets under the forthcoming contract. The Ukrainian side must do everything to ensure it can start using Gripens as early as next year, he added.
“We understand who we are fighting against, and Gripen is one of the best (fighters) in the world,” Zelensky said, adding that Ukrainian pilots have already begun training on the Swedish planes.
Kristersson noted that the deal concerns the most modern variant of the fighter jet, meaning its production capacity is still limited. Providing a less optimistic timeline than Zelensky, the prime minister said the first gradual deliveries could “practically” start within the next three years.
Sweden has been a key military supporter of Ukraine since the outbreak of the full-scale invasion in 2022, pledging tanks, artillery, armored vehicles, and reconnaissance planes.
