Ukraine Pushes for Maximum Meteor Missile Supply as Gripen Deal Moves Forward

Ukraine sees Meteor missiles as one of the key elements of its future air defense system and will work to secure as many of them as possible, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said during a joint press briefing with Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson, Ukrinform reported on July 1.

According to Fedorov, the missiles could become an important tool for countering Russian aircraft that launch guided aerial bombs against Ukrainian positions and cities.

“They are an important element of our future defense system. As I have already said, this could be a key tool against the carriers of Russian KABs, so we will do everything to get more of these missiles,” Fedorov said.

The minister confirmed that Ukraine is set to receive Meteor missiles together with Gripen fighter jets.

“We will definitely receive the missiles together with Gripen, but we are not disclosing the number yet. We will work to ensure there are as many of them as possible, because this missile is produced by a consortium of countries. There is still homework to be done in order to increase the number of the missiles themselves,” Fedorov added.

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.

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Defense Tech

Ukraine’s Air Force Gets Swedish Gripen Jets in a Historic Deal

Jul 01, 2026 11:46

Meteor is already in service with the air forces of Sweden, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, and is integrated on platforms including Gripen, Rafale, and Eurofighter Typhoon, with plans for future integration on the F-35.

Earlier, Ukraine and Sweden signed an agreement to supply modern Gripen fighter jets, strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses.

The two sides agreed to deliver 32 aircraft to Ukraine over the next three years. It marks the first major modernization of Ukraine’s air force through the large-scale procurement of modern fighter jets from a European country, signaling a gradual departure from Ukraine’s Soviet-era aviation legacy.

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