Ukraine and Sweden have signed a landmark defence cooperation agreement that clears the way for Kyiv to purchase between 100 and 150 Saab Gripen multirole fighter aircraft.
The announcement was made during a joint press conference at Saab’s headquarters in Linköping, where President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stood before a Gripen E aircraft to unveil the deal.
The agreement marks the first time a NATO member has offered to supply Ukraine with a large fleet of modern combat jets, a move both leaders described as transformative for European security. “This is the beginning of a long journey, but it takes us one step closer to a major export deal for Saab and Sweden and Ukraine,” Kristersson said, highlighting the deal’s long-term industrial and strategic implications.
For Sweden, the agreement represents what could become its largest ever defence export. For Ukraine, it promises to significantly modernise an air force still reliant on ageing Soviet-era aircraft. Zelenskyy said on X, “We are opening an entirely new and truly meaningful chapter in our relations, relations between Ukraine and Sweden, and more broadly, overall security relations in Europe. These are strong aviation platforms capable of performing a wide range of missions.”
Today, we are opening an entirely new and truly meaningful chapter in our relations—relations between Ukraine and Sweden, and more broadly, overall security relations in Europe.
Today, we have the first document signed between our countries, paving the way for Ukraine to acquire… pic.twitter.com/y23ouunOyY
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 22, 2025
The Saab Gripen, a fourth-generation light single-engine supersonic fighter, is known for its versatility and relatively low cost compared to fifth-generation aircraft such as the F-35. It can conduct air-to-air, air-to-ground and reconnaissance missions, making it well suited to Ukraine’s evolving air combat requirements.
Sweden has already supplied Ukraine with armoured vehicles, artillery systems, and ASC 890 radar reconnaissance aircraft, known internationally as the Saab Erieye. The Gripen deal extends that cooperation into advanced aviation, establishing a long-term industrial partnership focused on strengthening Ukraine’s air defence capabilities.
Exact terms, delivery schedules and costs are still to be finalised, but both governments indicated the agreement could redefine European air power and signal a new phase of defence integration between Sweden, now a NATO member, and Ukraine.
Also hugely good news for the British companies that make parts for the Gripen.
Presumably they get some used ones pretty quickly and Sweden gets new ones from the line to backfill.
Very interesting to see how these relatively cheap jets perform in combat. Key is they are easy to maintain and rugged.
That is where UK needs to adjust its mindset and have some 2nd tier platforms – like RN has T31. There are situations where an F35 or Typhoon is too much plane.
I get that RAF has limited budgets and it make sense to have mass of Typhoon and F35B before broadening out.
The trend was fixed many years back when “we” had multiple aircraft for different roles the Tornado (MRCA) was envisaged to combine many of those roles into one airframe. Typhoon has effectively slid into Tornado’s shoes whilst F35B has been rather lacking in numbers that were envisaged to replace certain Tornado and Harrier roles.
We lost Tornado, Harrier, Buccaneer, Jaguar and hundreds of airframes in persuit of “Multi Role”.
Jack of all trades thinly spread.
That is very true.
It was also a time of budget cuts and lots of platforms reaching EoL and no money for another upgrade cycle.
So having Typhoon, A400M & Chinook in numbers took priority.
“In Numbers” !
Could the Hawk replacement be a scaled-down Gripen, allowing for milk run operations and some combat support beyond its training role, with a heavier payload than Hawk? This new plane could also operate as a drone mothership, controlling observations. A smaller Gripen size would also be more representative of frontline aircraft.
Trouble is, the unit cost of Gripen has risen to $85m for the E version. The RAF is going in the opposite direction with Tempest – bigger, longer range.
The light attack role once carried out by small trainer aircraft will almost certainly be done by UCAVs. How survivable in contested airspace such a plane would be is unknown but Ukraine war suggests not very.
The Gripen F would make for a very significant advanced trainer. As it has all the avionic systems that a Gen 4.5 jet has along with some outstanding Electronic Warfare options. If the Gripen would make a decent advanced trainer, then equally a Typhoon two seater would be more in line with the RAF’s in-service jets, as well as providing logistical and maintenance commonality.
However, if we wanted to make sure the advanced trainer was more representative of Gen 5 jets, which could also do a bit of Gen 6. South Korea are looking at a two seater version of the KF21. Though I’m not sure if this is for the existing airframe or the Block 2 airframe with the internal weapons bays. A Block 2 version would be more representative of the F35A, along with some of its capabilities.
I would say we lost Tornado to savings.. there is no reason why the RAF could not still be running 4-6 squadrons of tornadoes, the frames only had half there flight hours used up and there were a lot of tornadoes.
That 2nd tier will almost certainly be drones rather than manned aircraft, though.
TBH if/when the navy finally get some combat drones operating from the carriers, there’s no reason the RAF couldn’t order additional units too.
I hope for some orders of something useful!
Be they drones or aircraft.
ATM the drones thing is more a hope and aspiration than a tested platform suitable for a contested environment.
Agreed.
I toi believe 2 Tier is the only way to get more mass.
Is that after Kier has had a few good lunches?
Yes, him as well haha.
Great news for Ukraine. Great little aircraft and i believe they can take off from roads, which will make it easier to disperse
slava ukraini
Interesting that the US has lost out on a big export due probably to its foreign policy.