Sweden’s Gripen Fighter Jets Head to Ukraine in Landmark Deal That Could Redefine Europe’s Air Power Landscape
Sweden’s flagship Gripen fighter jet is on the verge of its most significant test yet as Ukraine prepares to make the aircraft a central pillar of its air force in the ongoing war against Russia.
In a landmark defence agreement that signals deepening military cooperation between Kyiv and Stockholm, Ukraine has committed €2.5 billion from a broader €90 billion European Union loan package to acquire 20 new-generation Gripen E fighter jets. The deal is further strengthened by Sweden’s pledge to donate 16 older Gripen aircraft, giving Ukraine a powerful new capability to defend its skies and critical infrastructure.
The agreement, signed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson at Uppsala Air Base, marks what Kyiv describes as a transformative moment for the country’s military aviation strategy.
“We need these jets, and for us this is really a new page for Ukraine,” President Zelenskyy declared during the signing ceremony.
A Fighter Built for the Russian Threat
For decades, the Gripen has been regarded by military analysts as one of the world’s most capable yet underrated combat aircraft. Developed by Swedish defence giant Saab during the Cold War, the fighter was specifically designed to help Sweden withstand a potential Russian invasion.
Now, for the first time, the aircraft could find itself operating in exactly the type of conflict it was originally created to fight.
The Gripen first took to the skies in 1988 and has since been exported to several countries, including Brazil and South Africa. While it has participated in surveillance operations, air-policing missions and limited regional conflicts, it has never been subjected to the intense conditions of a large-scale modern war involving advanced Russian military systems.
Military experts believe Ukraine will provide the ultimate proving ground.
“This will be something completely different,” said Swedish Defence University lecturer and Lieutenant Colonel Johan Huovinen. “It will be a test against the systems that this aircraft is actually designed to face: Russia. It will be a test of Swedish technology in the end.”
Designed for Survival in Wartime Conditions
One of the Gripen’s biggest strengths lies not in stealth technology but in its ability to operate under difficult battlefield conditions.
Unlike many Western fighter jets that depend on large, heavily protected airbases, the Gripen was designed around Sweden’s Cold War doctrine of dispersed operations. The aircraft can take off and land from ordinary roads and highways, making it far more difficult for enemy forces to locate and destroy.
This capability is particularly attractive to Ukraine, whose air force has been forced to adapt to continuous missile and drone attacks on military infrastructure.
According to Ukrainian defence officials, the Gripen aligns perfectly with the country’s operational realities.
“Ukraine does not operate from intact NATO-standard airbases,” explained Oleksii Antoniuk, Defence Cooperation Lead at Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence. “We use dispersal airstrips, dirt runways, sections of highways and concealed positions across the country. The Gripen was designed for exactly this.”
The aircraft’s maintenance requirements also stand out. Military personnel can rapidly refuel, rearm and prepare the jet for its next mission in less than ten minutes using a minimal ground crew, a major advantage in a conflict where speed and mobility are critical.
Cost-Effective Firepower for a Long War
Beyond its operational flexibility, the Gripen offers significant economic advantages.
Defence officials estimate that the aircraft costs roughly $8,000 per flight hour to operate, less than a quarter of the estimated cost of flying the F-35, the advanced stealth fighter produced by Lockheed Martin.
For Ukraine, which faces a prolonged war of attrition, lower operating costs could allow the country to sustain a larger number of combat missions while stretching limited defence resources.
The Gripen also brings advanced weaponry to the battlefield, including the highly regarded Meteor air-to-air missile. Analysts believe the missile’s long-range capabilities could force Russian aircraft to operate farther from frontline positions, reducing the effectiveness of the glide bombs that have become one of Moscow’s most devastating weapons against Ukrainian targets.
Powerful but Not a Silver Bullet
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding the deal, defence experts caution against expecting the Gripen to dramatically alter the overall balance of air power.
Justin Bronk, Senior Research Fellow for Airpower and Technology at the Royal United Services Institute in London, argues that while the Gripen is exceptionally well suited to Ukraine’s operating environment, Russia’s extensive air defence network remains a major obstacle.
According to Bronk, the aircraft’s lack of stealth characteristics and smaller weapons payload compared to some Western alternatives could limit its ability to dominate contested airspace.
As a result, the Gripen is expected to strengthen Ukraine’s defensive and tactical capabilities rather than deliver outright air superiority.
Saab Eyes Expansion as Demand Grows
The Ukrainian order also represents a major commercial opportunity for Saab, the manufacturer behind the Gripen programme.
Prior to the Ukrainian agreement, Saab already had 117 Gripen E fighters on order. The company currently produces approximately 15 aircraft annually in Sweden and is working to increase production capacity to between 20 and 30 jets per year.
Additional manufacturing capabilities in Brazil could help support future demand, though analysts note that scaling production of advanced military aircraft remains a complex challenge.
Saab Chief Executive Officer Micael Johansson has expressed confidence that the company is prepared for the increased workload, adding that future cooperation with Ukraine could eventually include local maintenance, repairs, spare-parts support and even domestic production.
“Over time, with a big partner like Ukraine, that can happen, absolutely,” Johansson said.
A Strategic Win for Sweden’s Defence Industry
The Ukraine agreement is also being viewed as a milestone for Sweden’s defence sector.
The Gripen programme experienced significant challenges during its early years, including development cost overruns and highly publicised crashes that drew criticism from Swedish media. Yet decades later, the aircraft has evolved into one of Sweden’s most important technological exports.
The war in Ukraine has dramatically increased international interest in defence capabilities, helping propel Saab’s growth. The company’s shares have surged more than 850 percent since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Swedish officials believe the Gripen’s deployment in Ukraine could unlock new export opportunities around the world.
“This deal is a benchmark that will lead to more countries not only buying Gripen, but also seeing Sweden as a competitive supplier of advanced systems,” Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson said.
As Ukraine prepares to integrate the aircraft into its air force, the Gripen now stands at a defining moment in its history. The outcome of its performance on one of the world’s most challenging battlefields could shape not only Ukraine’s air defence capabilities but also the future of Sweden’s defence industry and the global fighter jet market.
