The contract allows the procurement of 16 Gripen E jets by Ukraine, with the primary deliveries anticipated in 2029-2030, and prepares the deliberate donation of 16 JAS 39 C/D plane.
Ukraine and the Swedish Protection Materiel Administration (FMV) signed the contract for the procurement of 16 Gripen E fighter jets for the Ukrainian Air Power. To allow the acquisition, the FMV then signed the contract with Saab, price roughly SEK 24.6 billion (€2.22 billion/$2.5 billion) and to be booked within the third quarter 2026.
The plane are being financed by an European Union help mortgage. Along with the plane, the contract additionally consists of spare elements and related objects and tools, with the primary deliveries scheduled to happen in 2029-2030.
Thanks, Sweden! 🇸🇪🤝🇺🇦
Strengthening the protection of our skies — a landmark settlement for 16 Swedish JAS 39 Gripen E fighters, arriving from early 2029.
First, 16 Gripen C/D land in early 2027 as Swedish army assist.
A historic step for our Air Power.
— Protection of Ukraine (@DefenceU) June 30, 2026
The event follows the announcement by Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Could 2026 that Ukraine would get an preliminary bundle of as much as 36 Gripen plane. These included an preliminary batch of as much as 20 Gripen E/F fighters to be procured from Saab and as much as 16 Gripen C/D fighters which Sweden intends to donate.
The brand new settlement was signed on June 30, 2026, throughout a gathering between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Swedish Minister of Protection Pål Jonson. Jonson highlighted that the UK contributed to creating the deal potential, with out offering particulars.
Immediately Sweden and Ukraine signed the primary Gripen gross sales contract: 16 Gripen E fighter plane, with UK help. A primary step in direction of Ukraine’s ambition to amass as much as 150 Gripen E/F over time. Swedish defence trade delivers for freedom and safety. pic.twitter.com/tb1x0ta6hN
— Försvarsdepartementet (@ForsvarsdepSv) June 30, 2026
The UK’s Ministry of Protection later launched an announcement mentioning that important elements of the plane shall be inbuilt Britain. The truth is, over 50 firms throughout the UK provide important parts together with the radar and touchdown gear, with over 30% of every plane manufactured within the UK, says the assertion.
Minister Jonson moreover famous that this settlement additionally prepares the deliberate donation of 16 JAS 39 C/D plane as a part of Sweden’s twenty second army help bundle, aimed to start in early 2027. President Zelenskyy confirmed that the coaching of Ukrainian pilots and technical personnel is already underway in Sweden.
Sweden has signed a gross sales contract with Ukraine for 16 Gripen E fighter plane, and FMV has signed the enabling contract with Saab. It is a main step for Ukraine’s freedom and Europe’s safety. Gripen will strengthen Ukraine’s capacity to defend its skies. (1/4) pic.twitter.com/nAgh87bJ0B
— Pål Jonson (@PlJonson) June 30, 2026
We’re grateful for the UK’s essential contribution to creating this potential. Help to Ukraine is strongest when allies and companions act collectively, combining financing, trade, coaching and political resolve in defence of freedom and European safety. (3/4)
— Pål Jonson (@PlJonson) June 30, 2026
The official statements as soon as once more famous that that is solely step one as a part of Ukraine’s ambition to purchase as much as 150 Gripens over time to rearm its air drive. The plane will even be accompanied by a weapon bundle “which can include IRIS-T missiles, superior medium vary air-to-air missiles (AMRAAM) and long-range METEOR air-to-air missiles.”
Ukraine’s highway to Gripen contract
Ukraine has lengthy set eyes on the Gripen as one in every of its future fighter jets, changing the Soviet-era plane at present in service and becoming a member of the F-16s and Mirage 2000s donated by European nations. The Swedish fighter has lengthy been thought-about an ideal candidate for Ukraine, due to its capacity to carry out dispersed operations from roads and unprepared runways in remoted areas with minimal help.
In 2023, Ukraine requested the permission for pilots and technicians to judge operationally the Gripen as one of many measures to strengthen the nation’s air defenses till a closing determination on the F-16 arrived. Sweden agreed and granted the opportunity of orientation coaching on the Gripen for the Ukrainian personnel, which occurred by the tip of the summer time.
In September 2025, Ukraine’s Deputy Protection Minister, Lieutenant Common Ivan Havryliuk, confirmed that the Gripen was among the many platforms anticipated to strengthen the Ukrainian Air Power. Earlier, Swedish Protection Minister Pål Jonson mentioned Sweden was open to discussing Gripen gross sales solely after the warfare ends.
Only a month later, in October 2025, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson signed a protection cooperation settlement. One a part of the settlement confirmed Ukraine’s intent to modernize and broaden its air drive with probably between 100 and 150 Saab Gripen multirole fighter plane.
Talking on the press convention, Kristersson mentioned: “We absolutely realise it’s a protracted highway forward of us, however from in the present day we’re dedicated to exploring all the probabilities in offering Ukraine with a considerable amount of Gripen fighters sooner or later.” If confirmed, this could symbolize Sweden’s largest ever export order.
In Could 2026, Sweden and Ukraine took new steps in direction of the Gripen procurement. Following a gathering, Kristersson and Zelenskyy introduced that Ukraine would procure an preliminary bundle of 36 plane.
Particularly, Ukraine intends to amass an preliminary batch of as much as 20 Gripen E/F fighters and Sweden intends to donate as much as 16 Gripen C/D fighters. At the moment negotiations have been nonetheless ongoing between Sweden’s Protection Materiel Administration and Ukraine, nevertheless it was already famous that the donation of the older Gripen C/Ds could be conditional on the acquisition of the newer variant.
The donation additionally consists of the Swedish help meant for coaching on and upkeep of the Gripens and the weapons, with a complete worth of SEK 22.2 billion ($1.4 billion). Coaching of Ukrainian pilots and different personnel is already underway, mentioned Sweden’s Minister of Protection.
The donated Gripen shall be changed by new Gripens which shall be acquired by the Swedish Air Power. The plane is likely to be delivered to Ukraine as early as subsequent yr, along with weapons “which can include IRIS-T missiles, superior medium vary air-to-air missiles (AMRAAM) and long-range METEOR air-to-air missiles.”
