Sweden to Supply Ukraine with Up to 150 Gripen E Aircraft

Ukraine and Sweden have signed a letter of intent to purchase between 100 and 150 Swedish JAS 39 Gripen E fighter jets, thereby strengthening defense cooperation between the countries.

The Gaze reports on it, referring to Interfax-Ukraine and Reuters.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a letter of intent in Linköping, marking the start of a lengthy process of concluding a major export deal for Saab.

"We fully realise it's a long road ahead of us," Kristersson said. "But from today we are committed to exploring all the possibilities in providing Ukraine with a large amount of Gripen fighters in the future."

According to him, the new aid from Sweden opens up new opportunities for the Ukrainian Air Force, the Swedish defense industry, and long-term cooperation between the two countries.

“As you already know, and as President Zelenskyy knows better than anyone, Sweden is one of Ukraine's largest military donors,” Kristersson emphasized.

The new JAS 39 Gripen E fighters combine maneuverability, economy, and high combat effectiveness. The aircraft are equipped with a more powerful engine, an improved weapons control system, modern radar, and advanced electronics, which allow them to effectively detect and destroy targets.

Another advantage of this type of fighter is that the Gripen E is capable of operating from short runways and easily adapts to different combat conditions, making it particularly valuable for Ukrainian aviation.

As The Gaze informed earlier, Sweden increased  its military support for Ukraine, announcing the 20th aid package worth around $982.5 million (9.2 billion SEK) and planning an additional $7.47 billion (70 billion SEK) in military assistance over the next two years.