Sweden considers selling Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine as part of post-war air force rebuilding
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During the MSPO 2025 defense exhibition in Kielce, Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson reiterated that Stockholm is open to supplying Saab Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine, but stressed that any delivery of the latest Gripen E would be a long-term endeavor and could only materialize after the war with Russia ends. These words come at a time when Western nations are already discussing how to rebuild Ukraine’s Air Force once hostilities conclude.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a multirole fighter capable of Mach 2, equipped with advanced radar, electronic warfare systems, and compatibility with NATO weapons, designed for dispersed operations and rapid turnaround on austere runways (Picture source: Saab).
The Saab JAS 39 Gripen has evolved through successive versions into one of the most versatile multirole fighters in Europe. The Gripen E, currently operated by Sweden and Brazil, incorporates advanced systems that set it apart from earlier models. It is powered by the General Electric F414G turbofan engine, delivering 22,000 lbf of thrust, allowing a maximum speed of Mach 2 and a service ceiling of 16,000 meters. Its combat radius exceeds 1,500 km, and it has an unrefueled ferry range of more than 4,000 km with external tanks. The aircraft integrates the Leonardo ES-05 Raven AESA radar with a swashplate antenna, granting a wide 200-degree field of view, as well as the Skyward-G infrared search and track (IRST) system for passive detection of enemy aircraft.
Avionics are built on an open-architecture mission system, enabling rapid software upgrades and integration of new weapons. The electronic warfare suite includes digital radio frequency memory (DRFM)-based jamming and towed decoys, enhancing survivability against modern surface-to-air missiles. Weapons compatibility is extensive, with the aircraft capable of deploying Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles, IRIS-T and AIM-9X short-range missiles, AMRAAMs, and a wide selection of precision-guided air-to-ground munitions including the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb and Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missile. The Gripen E also retains the Mauser BK-27 27 mm cannon for close combat and ground attack.
The Gripen C/D, which Ukraine has long sought, remains a highly capable platform despite being an earlier generation. It is powered by the Volvo RM12 engine, delivering 18,100 lbf of thrust, and achieves Mach 2 with a combat radius around 800 km. It is equipped with the PS-05/A radar, based on the British Blue Vixen design, offering look-down/shoot-down capability and multi-target tracking. Like the Gripen E, the C/D variant is NATO-compatible and supports advanced weapons such as Meteor, AMRAAM, and laser-guided bombs. One of its key strengths is its ability to operate from austere airstrips as short as 800 meters, a critical feature for Ukraine where runways may be vulnerable to Russian strikes.
Introducing Gripens would provide Ukraine with a fighter optimized for dispersed operations, high sortie generation rates, and relatively low operating costs, estimated at $4,700 per flight hour for the C/D compared to more than $20,000 for an F-16. The Gripen’s modern datalinks, including compatibility with NATO’s Link 16, would ensure integration into coalition operations, while its electronic warfare systems could help offset Russia’s dense air defense network. Dispersed basing and quick turnaround capability, the aircraft can be rearmed and refueled in less than 10 minutes by a team of six ground personnel, would enhance survivability and continuity of air operations under constant threat.
Sweden’s position reflects both caution and opportunity. Stockholm is clear that Gripen E transfers will be considered only after the war as part of a structured, long-term effort to rebuild Ukraine’s air force along NATO standards. Meanwhile, the possibility of supplying C/D models sooner remains under discussion, though NATO allies have advised a staged approach to avoid overloading Ukrainian pilots already training on F-16s. This debate underscores broader Western efforts to design a sustainable post-war force for Kyiv. Beyond Ukraine, Sweden is also tightening defense links with Poland, highlighted at MSPO 2025 by a Letter of Intent on defense industrial cooperation, Saab’s bid to supply A26 submarines under Warsaw’s Orka program, and new partnerships between Saab, PGZ, and WB Group in areas ranging from unmanned systems to naval technologies.
The Gripen offers Ukraine both immediate and long-term options. The C/D variant could strengthen Ukraine’s air defense and strike capabilities in the near future, while the Gripen E represents a pathway to a fully modernized, NATO-compatible air force once the war concludes. The decision will hinge not only on military suitability but also on political timing, alliance coordination, and the evolving security architecture of Eastern Europe.
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During the MSPO 2025 defense exhibition in Kielce, Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson reiterated that Stockholm is open to supplying Saab Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine, but stressed that any delivery of the latest Gripen E would be a long-term endeavor and could only materialize after the war with Russia ends. These words come at a time when Western nations are already discussing how to rebuild Ukraine’s Air Force once hostilities conclude.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a multirole fighter capable of Mach 2, equipped with advanced radar, electronic warfare systems, and compatibility with NATO weapons, designed for dispersed operations and rapid turnaround on austere runways (Picture source: Saab).
The Saab JAS 39 Gripen has evolved through successive versions into one of the most versatile multirole fighters in Europe. The Gripen E, currently operated by Sweden and Brazil, incorporates advanced systems that set it apart from earlier models. It is powered by the General Electric F414G turbofan engine, delivering 22,000 lbf of thrust, allowing a maximum speed of Mach 2 and a service ceiling of 16,000 meters. Its combat radius exceeds 1,500 km, and it has an unrefueled ferry range of more than 4,000 km with external tanks. The aircraft integrates the Leonardo ES-05 Raven AESA radar with a swashplate antenna, granting a wide 200-degree field of view, as well as the Skyward-G infrared search and track (IRST) system for passive detection of enemy aircraft.
Avionics are built on an open-architecture mission system, enabling rapid software upgrades and integration of new weapons. The electronic warfare suite includes digital radio frequency memory (DRFM)-based jamming and towed decoys, enhancing survivability against modern surface-to-air missiles. Weapons compatibility is extensive, with the aircraft capable of deploying Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles, IRIS-T and AIM-9X short-range missiles, AMRAAMs, and a wide selection of precision-guided air-to-ground munitions including the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb and Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missile. The Gripen E also retains the Mauser BK-27 27 mm cannon for close combat and ground attack.
The Gripen C/D, which Ukraine has long sought, remains a highly capable platform despite being an earlier generation. It is powered by the Volvo RM12 engine, delivering 18,100 lbf of thrust, and achieves Mach 2 with a combat radius around 800 km. It is equipped with the PS-05/A radar, based on the British Blue Vixen design, offering look-down/shoot-down capability and multi-target tracking. Like the Gripen E, the C/D variant is NATO-compatible and supports advanced weapons such as Meteor, AMRAAM, and laser-guided bombs. One of its key strengths is its ability to operate from austere airstrips as short as 800 meters, a critical feature for Ukraine where runways may be vulnerable to Russian strikes.
Introducing Gripens would provide Ukraine with a fighter optimized for dispersed operations, high sortie generation rates, and relatively low operating costs, estimated at $4,700 per flight hour for the C/D compared to more than $20,000 for an F-16. The Gripen’s modern datalinks, including compatibility with NATO’s Link 16, would ensure integration into coalition operations, while its electronic warfare systems could help offset Russia’s dense air defense network. Dispersed basing and quick turnaround capability, the aircraft can be rearmed and refueled in less than 10 minutes by a team of six ground personnel, would enhance survivability and continuity of air operations under constant threat.
Sweden’s position reflects both caution and opportunity. Stockholm is clear that Gripen E transfers will be considered only after the war as part of a structured, long-term effort to rebuild Ukraine’s air force along NATO standards. Meanwhile, the possibility of supplying C/D models sooner remains under discussion, though NATO allies have advised a staged approach to avoid overloading Ukrainian pilots already training on F-16s. This debate underscores broader Western efforts to design a sustainable post-war force for Kyiv. Beyond Ukraine, Sweden is also tightening defense links with Poland, highlighted at MSPO 2025 by a Letter of Intent on defense industrial cooperation, Saab’s bid to supply A26 submarines under Warsaw’s Orka program, and new partnerships between Saab, PGZ, and WB Group in areas ranging from unmanned systems to naval technologies.
The Gripen offers Ukraine both immediate and long-term options. The C/D variant could strengthen Ukraine’s air defense and strike capabilities in the near future, while the Gripen E represents a pathway to a fully modernized, NATO-compatible air force once the war concludes. The decision will hinge not only on military suitability but also on political timing, alliance coordination, and the evolving security architecture of Eastern Europe.
