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Ukraine to Receive 150 Swedish Gripen Fighter Jets, First Deliveries Set for 2026

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Ivan Khomenko
News Writer
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sign a letter of intent in front of a Gripen fighter jet in Linköping, Sweden, on October 22, 2025. (Source: Getty Images)
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sign a letter of intent in front of a Gripen fighter jet in Linköping, Sweden, on October 22, 2025. (Source: Getty Images)

Ukraine expects to receive 150 Swedish-made JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets, with the first aircraft scheduled to arrive as early as 2026. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the plan following the signing of a defense cooperation declaration between Kyiv and Stockholm.

“This is a historic step—an agreement with Sweden on Gripen fighter jets, and it’s a good choice,” President Zelenskyy said in a statement on Telegram.

“We expect 150 such aircraft for Ukraine, and the first should appear next year.” He added that Gripen jets would form part of Ukraine’s long-term security guarantees, creating air forces capable of fully protecting the country’s airspace.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson emphasized that the agreement, signed on October 22, represents a long-term framework rather than an immediate delivery.

“This is about long-term cooperation and the possibility of achieving a major deal between our countries—something around 100 to 150 Gripen E fighter jets,” Kristersson said. He described the deal as “a clear mutual statement and the beginning of a long journey lasting 10–15 years.”

The JAS 39 Gripen E is Saab’s latest generation multirole fighter, designed for cost efficiency, easy maintenance, and operations from short or improvised runways—an advantage in wartime conditions.

Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine had selected Sweden’s Gripen jets as a top priority for its future Air Force, calling them “powerful aviation platforms” and stating that the first deliveries could begin as early as 2026.

He emphasized that the Gripen will form one of three core systems—alongside F-16s and Rafales—on which Ukraine’s modern air capabilities will be built.

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