Gripen’s Meteor Missile Could Help Ukraine Stop Russia’s Devastating KAB Bomb Strikes

Ukraine will receive Swedish Gripen fighter jets together with weapons, including long-range Meteor air-to-air missiles capable of striking enemy aircraft at distances of more than 200 kilometers, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on May 28.

The missiles could become one of the most important parts of the Gripen package, as Ukraine hopes to use them to push Russian aircraft farther away from the front line and reduce Russia’s ability to launch guided aerial bombs, known as KABs.

“We think we will be able to push Russian aircraft back so that they do not use KABs against us,” Zelenskyy said.

Russian glide bombs have become one of the most destructive tools used against Ukrainian front-line cities and positions. Launched from aircraft at a distance, they allow Russian pilots to strike without entering the range of many Ukrainian air defense systems.

The Meteor missile could change that equation. With a range of more than 200 kilometers, it would allow Ukrainian Gripen pilots to threaten Russian aircraft before they reach comfortable launch zones for KAB strikes.

Meteor is widely regarded as the longest-range operational air-to-air missile in Europe and across NATO. Developed by MBDA, the missile is powered by a solid-fuel ramjet, allowing it to maintain high speed—above Mach 4—throughout its flight and retain lethal energy at long distances.

With an estimated range exceeding 200 kilometers, Meteor offers a much larger “no-escape zone” than conventional air-to-air missiles, enabling it to threaten highly maneuverable aircraft, cruise missiles, and UAVs even in heavy electronic warfare environments.

Zelenskyy also said Ukraine intends to purchase all 150 Gripen fighters previously discussed with Sweden. The aircraft are expected to be financed through a €90 billion EU loan for Ukraine.

Ukraine will also buy 22 new Gripen E fighters, the most modern version of the Swedish jet, Zelenskyy said. These aircraft could be delivered by 2030.

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The Gripen E offers improved avionics, radar, range, and weapons capacity compared with earlier C/D models. Combined with Meteor missiles, the aircraft could significantly expand Ukraine’s ability to contest Russian aviation at long range.

“We will also purchase 22 new Gripen E aircraft, which can be delivered by 2030, but in total we will purchase all 150 previously agreed Gripen E fighters,” Zelenskyy said.

The announcement follows Sweden’s decision to provide Ukraine with 16 Gripen C/D fighters, with delivery expected in early 2027.

Together with future Gripen E purchases, the deal could become one of the largest long-term upgrades to Ukraine’s Air Force since the start of Russia’s full-scale war.

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“Airborne Within Five Minutes”: What Gripen Jets Would Mean for Ukraine—A Former Swedish Air Force Pilot

Mar 26, 2026 15:11

For Ukraine, the key issue is not only getting more aircraft, but getting fighters armed with missiles that can force Russian aviation to operate farther from the battlefield.

If Gripen and Meteor can push Russian bomb carriers back, they could directly reduce one of the most dangerous threats facing Ukrainian troops and civilians near the front.

Earlier, reports emerged that Sweden’s Saab was evaluating the possibility of equipping its JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets with low-cost APKWS guided rockets as an affordable way to counter drones—a concept shaped heavily by Ukraine’s battlefield experience.

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