Swedish defense company Saab signed a contract on June 30 with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to deliver 16 Gripen E fighter aircraft to Ukraine. The deal is valued at approximately SEK 24.6 billion, or about $2.54 billion, and includes spare parts, associated items, and equipment. This order will be booked in the third quarter of 2026, with deliveries from Saab to FMV scheduled for 2029-2030.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson for the deal and stated that deliveries would begin in 2027, though Saab's timetable indicates a later start. Ukraine's Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov described the agreement as a historic step, emphasizing that the Gripen jets, capable of carrying Meteor missiles, will significantly enhance Ukraine's air defense capabilities and provide a technological advantage, particularly in long-range aerial combat. Fedorov also mentioned that Ukrainian pilots and technical personnel have already begun training in Sweden.
This purchase of 16 Gripen E jets is financed through European Credit Funds with British support. It runs parallel to a separate initiative where Sweden has committed to supplying Ukraine with 16 Gripen C/D jets as military assistance, with the first of these expected to arrive in early 2027. The current deal places Saab, known for its Gripen fighter aircraft and radar systems, at the center of Ukraine's long-term Air Force modernization plans, with Zelenskyy reportedly expressing interest in purchasing up to 150 Gripen E jets in the future.
