Gripen fighter aircraft armed with Meteor missiles will strengthen Ukraine’s Air Force and help push russian glide bomb carriers farther from the front line

Within the next 10 months, Ukraine expects to receive the first batch of Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft together with Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles.

This will provide a major boost to the Ukrainian Air Force and enhance Ukraine’s ability to counter russian aviation and glide bombs, also known as guided bomb units (GBUs).

The extended reach of Ukraine’s Air Force

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy initiated the signing of an agreement with the Swedish government under which Ukraine will procure up to 20 JAS 39 Gripen E fourth-generation multirole fighter aircraft. An additional 16 Gripen C/D aircraft will be provided to Ukraine as military assistance.

Importantly, the first batch of Gripens will be delivered together with Meteor missiles.

This combination will eventually extend the engagement range against aerial targets and place additional pressure on russian aviation, particularly aircraft launching glide bombs against Ukrainian positions and cities.

Glide bombs remain one of the greatest challenges facing the Defence Forces of Ukraine. Enemy tactical aircraft, primarily Su-34 and Su-35 jets, release these bombs while staying outside the range of Ukrainian air defence systems.

Gripen aircraft armed with Meteor missiles could help push russian aviation farther away and reduce the enemy’s ability to conduct mass glide bomb attacks.

Why Meteor missiles matter

Meteor is a long-range air-to-air missile developed by the European defence company MBDA.

The missile has an engagement range of more than 100 km and a maximum range of up to 200 km. It can reach speeds of around 4,600 kilometres per hour.

Meteor is equipped with an active radar seeker and a ramjet engine. This allows it to maintain high speed throughout its flight and engage aerial targets effectively at long range.

These features make Meteor one of the most capable long-range air-to-air missiles in its class. Gripen aircraft armed with Meteor missiles could create a persistent threat to russian glide bomb carriers, particularly Su-34 aircraft, pushing them farther from the front line.

Gripen meets the demands of modern warfare

The Ministry of Defence previously highlighted the advantages of the Gripen, an aircraft designed for rapid operations from various operational airfields.

This is particularly important for Ukraine as it faces a constant threat of strikes against its infrastructure. Gripen enhances the Air Force’s capabilities and contributes to the development of a more resilient and layered air defence system.

Ukraine thanks the people and government of Sweden for their consistent and steadfast support in strengthening Ukraine’s defence. We also express our gratitude personally to Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Minister for Defence Pål Jonson for their leadership in supporting Ukraine.

We continue to work with our partners to advance modern air defence capabilities. This is part of a comprehensive approach to maintaining the initiative across the warfare domains outlined in Ukraine’s defence strategy.