Ukraine intends to acquire an initial batch of up to 20 Gripen E/F, with Sweden planning to donate up to 16 Gripen C/D as early as next year.
Sweden and Ukraine are taking new steps towards the Gripen procurement announced last year. Following a meeting between Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on May 28, 2026, the two countries announced that Ukraine would get an initial package of up to 36 aircraft.
Specifically, Ukraine intends to acquire an initial batch of up to 20 Gripen E/F fighters and Sweden intends to donate up to 16 Gripen C/D fighters. It is unclear how many batches of Gripen E/F will be acquired, with the agreement signed last year mentioning between 100 and 150 airframes in total.
Training of Ukrainian pilots and technicians is already underway and will expand this autumn.
Gripen C/D can be delivered with weapons such as IRIS-T, AMRAAM and the long-range Meteor missile. This is about aircraft, weapons, skills and sustainment. (2/8)
— Pål Jonson (@PlJonson) May 28, 2026
Sweden’s press release about the announcement says that negotiations are ongoing between Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration and Ukraine, with the goal to conclude an agreement as soon as possible. Delivery of the new Gripens is estimated to begin before 2030.
The press release also mentions that the donation of the older Gripen C/Ds is conditional on the acquisition of the newer variant. The aircraft might be delivered to Ukraine as early as next year, says Sweden, together with weapons “which may consist of IRIS-T missiles, advanced medium range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAM) and long-range METEOR air-to-air missiles.”
I am grateful to the people and government of Sweden, and personally to @SwedishPM Ulf Kristersson, for supporting Ukraine, for their principled stance, and for their readiness to bring a just peace closer through real steps. We continue and expand our cooperation. pic.twitter.com/9hprvQODaX
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 28, 2026
The donation also includes the Swedish support intended for training on and maintenance of the Gripens and the weapons, with a total value of SEK 22.2 billion ($1.4 billion). Training of Ukrainian pilots and other personnel is already underway, says Sweden’s Minister of Defense.
The donated Gripen will be replaced by new Gripens which will be acquired by the Swedish Air Force. At present, Saab says it “has not signed any contract nor received an order relating to this.”
I am in Sweden today on a working visit. We are preparing a major defense package for Ukraine and a strong step regarding Gripen fighter jets, which will definitely make our combat aviation more effective. Meetings are scheduled today with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, and… pic.twitter.com/WjwV589PKk
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 28, 2026
The Gripens are in addition to a larger support pack for Ukraine, valued at SEK 1.5 billion ($161 million), which includes ammunition (such as long-range artillery ammunition), electromagnetic warfare systems, and support for Ukraine’s long-range capability, including command and control systems.
Additionally, the two countries announced a deal for innovation initiatives and industry cooperation, valued at SEK 300 million ($32 million), and for support from the Swedish Defence Research Agency, valued at SEK 100 million ($10.7 million). Finally, two more deals cover multilateral funds and initiatives in support of Ukraine, valued at SEK 1 billion ($107 million), and Support to civil defense, valued at SEK 100 million ($10.7 million).
The 2025 defense cooperation agreement
In a joint press conference held in front of a Gripen E aircraft at Saab’s facility in Linkoping, Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Oct. 22, 2025, the mutual signing of a defense cooperation agreement. One part of the agreement confirms Ukraine’s intent to modernize and expand its air force with potentially between 100 and 150 Saab Gripen multirole fighter aircraft.
If confirmed, this would represent Sweden’s largest ever export order. Previously, Ukrainian pilots have already test flown Gripen in Sweden as far back as 2023.
The Gripen has long been suggested as a strong option for the rebuilding of Ukraine’s air force both during and post conflict. Specifically designed to correspond with Swedish doctrine of operating from makeshift forward operating locations, the jet has good short-field performance and comparatively simple maintenance requirements.
Speaking at the press conference, Kristersson said: “We fully realise it’s a long road ahead of us, but from today we are committed to exploring all the possibilities in providing Ukraine with a large amount of Gripen fighters in the future.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reaffirmed his ambition to see the jets in service as soon as possible. “For our army, Gripens are a priority. It is about money, about manoeuvres,” he told gathered reporters.
