Gripen back? Ukraine says Saab’s jet among ‘expected’ Western fighter deliveries

Ukraine’s First Deputy Defense Minister, Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk, has hinted at a possible resumption of Saab Gripen fighter deliveries, after Sweden paused the plan in 2024 to avoid overlap with the multinational F-16 coalition. 

In an interview with BBC News Ukraine, Havryliuk was asked whether Kyiv should expect additional aircraft.  

“Practically, you named the nomenclature correctly,” he replied when F-16s, Mirage 2000s, and Gripens were mentioned. Pressed for details, he added: “When you see them in the skies over Ukraine, then you will understand.” 

Gripen back in the conversation 

Sweden initially considered transferring Gripen C/D fighters to Ukraine in 2023 but was asked by allies in late 2024 to suspend the plan in order to prioritize the integration of F-16s. At the time, the concern was that introducing two Western fighter platforms at once would overburden Ukraine’s training and logistics system. 

That caution has since eased. In addition to F-16s now arriving from European partners, France has already transferred Mirage 2000-5 jets, which are flying operational missions with the Ukrainian Air Force. Kyiv is therefore already operating two Western combat aircraft types in parallel, raising questions about whether Gripen could also find a place. 

Stockholm has also taken steps pointing to deeper cooperation. Its 17th military aid package, announced in September 2024 and valued at $400 million, included spare parts for fighter aircraft, a detail seen as a signal that the Gripen option had not been closed off entirely. In spring 2025, Sweden and Ukraine discussed broader defense cooperation, including possible upgrades for Ukraine’s Soviet-era fighter fleet with Western avionics, radars, and electronic warfare systems. 

Gripen C/D demand abroad 

Brazil is reportedly negotiating to acquire up to 12 second-hand Gripen C/D fighters from Sweden as an interim solution while it transitions from its aging F-5 and AMX fleets to new-build Gripen E/F jets. 

Other operators of the Gripen C/D include the Czech Republic, Hungary, South Africa and Thailand. None, however, is in a position to release aircraft. The Czech and Hungarian fleets will remain in service until their F-35 deliveries in the 2030s, Thailand is keeping its C/Ds while awaiting new Gripen E/F jets, and South Africa faces its own availability and political constraints. That leaves the 71 Gripen C/D jets of Sweden’s air force as the only realistic near-term source of Gripens for Ukraine. 

With F-16s and Mirage 2000s already in Ukrainian service, the Gripen remains an attractive option on paper thanks to its short runway performance and modest maintenance footprint. Yet availability is the decisive factor. Sweden’s limited pool of C/D fighters may end up committed elsewhere, and Stockholm has stressed that any Gripen E/F sale would only be considered after the war, as newly built aircraft would demand more time and resources. The post Gripen back? Ukraine says Saab’s jet among ‘expected’ Western fighter deliveries appeared first on AeroTime.

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