#SU-35

As Ukraine seeks to modernize its air force and counter Russia’s entrenched air dominance, Sweden’s Gripen-E multirole fighter is emerging as a realistic and highly survivable option. The aircraft’s agility, electronic warfare resilience, and networked combat capability could offer Ukraine the means to contest Russian airspace on more equal terms.

Russia’s Su-57 fighter jet has long been advertised by Moscow as the crown jewel of its military aviation, but newly obtained classified documents suggest the aircraft was delivered to the Russian military in stripped-down form—missing critical targeting subsystems—and at inflated costs.