Ukraine will acquire 20 new Swedish Gripen E fighter jets and receive 16 older C/D models next year, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Thursday (28 May), in a move aimed at strengthening Kyiv’s air force.
The announcement was made during a joint press conference at Uppsala Air Base, where two Gripen jets were displayed.
Kristersson said the agreement marked a significant step in defence cooperation between the two countries.
“Gripen is the best and optimal choice for Ukraine. Today, we take the next major step on this joint journey,” he noted.
Zelenskyy described the deal as a key development for Ukraine’s military aviation capabilities, adding that the country intends to acquire up to 150 Gripen jets under an earlier letter of intent signed last year.
“We need these jets and for us this is really a new page for Ukraine,” he said.
He added that Ukraine had allocated €2.5 billion from a broader €90 billion EU loan package to help finance the aircraft purchase.
The agreement comes as Ukraine continues to rebuild its air force. The Gripen is widely regarded as a cost-effective platform capable of operating from dispersed runways, including roads, making it particularly suited to wartime conditions.
Deliveries of the newer Gripen E model are expected to begin in 2030, while the donated C/D aircraft are set to provide more immediate reinforcement.
Sweden has been one of Ukraine’s key defence supporters since the start of the war, providing more than 128 billion Swedish crowns (U.S.$13.75 billion) in combined military and civilian aid. It has also set aside an additional 80 billion crowns in support for this year and next year.
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