Strengthening the protection of Ukraine's skies: agreement signed to procure Gripen E fighter aircraft
Ukraine is taking a historic step towards modernising its Air Force and strengthening the protection of its airspace. An agreement has been officially signed to procure 16 Swedish JAS 39 Gripen E multirole fighter aircraft.
The agreement was signed in the presence of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and representatives of the ministries of defence of both countries by Sergiy Boyev, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine; Arsen Zhumadilov, Director of the Defence Procurement Agency; and Mikael Granholm, Director General of the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV).
Ukraine to receive Gripen E aircraft in early 2029
These aircraft are expected to begin operating in Ukraine in early 2029.
In addition to the aircraft themselves, the partnership includes the supply of the necessary equipment and ongoing maintenance support.
In parallel, Ukrainian pilots and technical personnel are already receiving the required training with the support of partner countries.
How Gripen E will strengthen the protection of Ukraine's skies
The acquisition of these aircraft will significantly enhance the combat capabilities of the Defence Forces of Ukraine, helping them more effectively destroy enemy cruise missiles and drones and support combat operations along the frontline.
The key strengths of the JAS 39 Gripen E fighter aircraft include:
- Technological superiority and low observability: the aircraft is equipped with a state-of-the-art AESA radar and one of the world’s best electronic warfare (EW) systems. This enables our pilots to detect threats first and effectively jam enemy radars and air defence systems.
- Increased performance: thanks to its new engine and increased fuel capacity, the aircraft can carry a larger weapons payload and remain airborne for longer during operational missions.
- Armament: the aircraft can be armed with the Meteor air-to-air missile, which has a range of more than 100 km.
The agreement is being implemented through a European loan, with support from the United Kingdom, one of Ukraine's strategic partners.
We express our gratitude to the Government of Sweden, Saab, and our partners for their strong and consistent support for Ukraine. We also extend our thanks to the Ministry of Defence team for their dedicated work.
It is worth noting that Ukraine will also receive another variant of the JAS 39 as military assistance — the first 16 Gripen C/D aircraft are scheduled to arrive in early 2027.