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This Is Why Russia Can’t Afford to Stall Talks: What Ukraine Is Getting in 2026

Swedish Air Force JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets with Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft in the air, circa 2008. (Source: SAAB)

Ukraine could enter 2026 with its most dramatic military upgrade yet—combining Western fighter jets, airborne early warning aircraft, next-generation European air defense systems, and a new generation of Ukrainian-made ballistic and cruise missiles.

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Photo of Vlad Litnarovych
Vlad Litnarovych
News Writer

These capabilities could fundamentally reshape Ukraine’s ability to contest the air, defend against missile attacks, and strike deep into Russian rear areas, according to analysis and reporting by Defense Express on January 1.

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While not every system is contractually guaranteed, multiple programs already underway suggest 2026 may mark a qualitative turning point for Ukraine’s Air Force and integrated air defense network, Defense Express notes.

Gripen fighters: Sweden’s jets could change the air war

Among the most consequential developments is Ukraine’s expectation to receive used JAS 39 Gripen C/D fighters in 2026, according to Defense Express.

Discussions around Gripen transfers have circulated for years, but Sweden formally reserved spare parts and support packages as early as 2024—a key prerequisite for delivery.

While these are not the latest Gripen E/F variants, Defense Express emphasizes that up to 14 Gripen C/D aircraft would still represent a major leap for Ukraine’s Air Force.

Crucially, Gripen’s primary air-to-air weapon is the Meteor missile, the longest-range Western air-to-air missile with an engagement range approaching 200 kilometers.

As Defense Express highlights, neither the F-16 nor Mirage 2000-5 currently available to Ukraine can employ a missile with comparable reach.

Saab 340 AEW&C: missing piece of Ukraine’s Air Defense puzzle

Sweden’s planned transfer of Saab 340 AEW&C (ASC 890) airborne early warning aircraft was announced back in May 2024—yet the planes have still not arrived.

According to Defense Express, this delay is likely tied to upgrades on Ukraine’s F-16 fleet, possibly involving data-link integration.

Defense Express explains that AEW&C aircraft are force multipliers: they allow fighters to engage targets using off-board radar data, vastly extending the effectiveness of long-range missiles like Meteor.

Just as important, they dramatically improve detection of low-altitude threats such as cruise missiles and drones—one of Ukraine’s most persistent challenges.

If the aircraft did not arrive in 2025, Defense Express assesses that 2026 is now the most likely window, potentially synchronized with Gripen deliveries.

SAMP/T NG: Europe’s most powerful air defense may head to Ukraine

France has signaled its intent to provide Ukraine with up to eight SAMP/T NG systems, the most advanced European long-range air defense platform.

Defense Express reports that while the SAMP/T NG will only formally enter service in 2026, prototype or early-production systems could be transferred sooner.

Trials of both the French and Italian SAMP/T NG variants concluded in late 2024, focusing on new radars and an upgraded interceptor missile.

Defense Express notes that even limited deployment in Ukraine would offer something invaluable: real combat testing against ballistic threats, a scenario few Western systems have faced at scale.

Ukrainian ballistic missiles: FP-7 and FP-9 enter the fight

Ukraine’s domestic defense industry is also preparing long-range surprises. Defense Express highlights Fire Point’s FP-7 ballistic missile, with a 200 km range and 150 kg warhead, which is expected to complete codification and enter service in 2026.

Even more striking is the planned FP-9, expected to complete trials by mid-2026. Defense Express reports its projected specifications as a range of up to 855 km and a warhead of approximately 800 kg.

If fielded, FP-9 would represent Ukraine’s longest-range indigenous strike weapon to date.

ERAM cruise missiles: thousands of affordable deep-strike weapons

Ukraine is also expected to receive large quantities of US-developed ERAM (Extended Range Attack Munition) cruise missiles in 2026. Washington authorized the purchase of 3,350 missiles in August 2025, including:

  • Rusty Dagger (Zone 5 Technologies);

  • RAACM (CoAspire).

With a range of up to 400 km and a unit cost of roughly $246,000, these missiles offer exceptional value. Defense Express calculates that funding from Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway could secure several thousand units.

Adding strategic depth, Defense Express points out that Norway’s defense giant Kongsberg acquired 90% of Zone 5 Technologies in late 2025—potentially insulating supply chains from US political volatility.

Why 2026 could be a turning point

Taken together, Defense Express argues that these systems—fighters, AEW aircraft, missile shields, ballistic weapons, and cruise missiles—form an ecosystem rather than isolated upgrades. The combination would:

  • extend Ukraine’s air combat reach;

  • strengthen missile defense against ballistic threats;

  • enable sustained deep strikes at scale;

  • reduce dependence on single suppliers.

While not every platform is guaranteed, Defense Express concludes that even partial delivery would mark the most profound modernization of Ukraine’s air and strike forces since independence.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to purchase 100 French-made Dassault Rafale multirole jets. The agreement, part of a new 10-year defense cooperation framework with Paris, signals a major leap in Ukraine’s long-term airpower ambitions.

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