Sweden to Deploy Gripen Fighter Aircraft in Poland Under NATO Command for First Time
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The Swedish Armed Forces will deploy eight Gripen fighter aircraft in Poland under NATO command for the first time. This deployment, planned for mid-2025, is part of Sweden’s continued commitment to supporting NATO’s collective defense and its ongoing contributions to regional security in Eastern Europe.
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The Swedish Armed Forces will deploy eight Gripen fighter aircraft in Poland. (Picture source: Swedish MoD)
The announcement came on March 6, 2025, after the Swedish government submitted a proposal to the Riksdag (Swedish Parliament) regarding an air defense operation aimed at protecting both military and civilian support for Ukraine. The mission will also contribute to enhanced surveillance of NATO’s airspace in Poland.
This operation follows the deployment of the 71st Mechanized Infantry Battalion in Latvia, which marked Sweden’s largest military commitment outside its borders in recent history. As part of NATO’s defense efforts, this mission signifies the “new normal” for Swedish defense, as explained by Lieutenant Colonel Henrik Rosdahl, the commander of the deployed unit.
Between May 1 and August 31, 2025, Sweden will deploy eight JAS-39 Gripen fighter aircraft to Poland, where they will assist in protecting the logistics corridors crucial for NATO’s military and civilian support to Ukraine. This support, delivered through the NATO Security and Assistance Training Program (NSATU), is essential for maintaining the flow of aid and military supplies into Ukraine. The Swedish contribution also includes enhancing air and maritime surveillance capabilities.
Currently, NATO’s air surveillance in Poland is managed by four Norwegian F-35A fighter-bombers stationed at the Poznań-Krzesiny Air Base. However, the Swedish deployment will further augment NATO’s operational readiness in the region, reinforcing the alliance’s capacity to monitor and protect its airspace.
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard highlighted the importance of this mission, emphasizing that the Gripen aircraft would both protect NATO’s airspace and ensure the continued security of arms shipments to Ukraine. She also pointed out that Poland serves as a crucial logistical hub for these supplies.
Defense Minister Pål Jonson underscored the dual significance of this deployment. “This marks the first time Swedish fighter aircraft will participate in air surveillance over the territory of another NATO ally. It is also the first time Swedish aircraft will take part in NATO’s enhanced airspace monitoring mission abroad,” Jonson said.
The minister further stressed the importance of the mission in reducing the risk of potential Russian aerial aggression. He reassured that the deployment would not weaken Sweden’s own defense posture, instead contributing to its security while enhancing interoperability with NATO air forces.
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
The Swedish Armed Forces will deploy eight Gripen fighter aircraft in Poland under NATO command for the first time. This deployment, planned for mid-2025, is part of Sweden’s continued commitment to supporting NATO’s collective defense and its ongoing contributions to regional security in Eastern Europe.
The Swedish Armed Forces will deploy eight Gripen fighter aircraft in Poland. (Picture source: Swedish MoD)
The announcement came on March 6, 2025, after the Swedish government submitted a proposal to the Riksdag (Swedish Parliament) regarding an air defense operation aimed at protecting both military and civilian support for Ukraine. The mission will also contribute to enhanced surveillance of NATO’s airspace in Poland.
This operation follows the deployment of the 71st Mechanized Infantry Battalion in Latvia, which marked Sweden’s largest military commitment outside its borders in recent history. As part of NATO’s defense efforts, this mission signifies the “new normal” for Swedish defense, as explained by Lieutenant Colonel Henrik Rosdahl, the commander of the deployed unit.
Between May 1 and August 31, 2025, Sweden will deploy eight JAS-39 Gripen fighter aircraft to Poland, where they will assist in protecting the logistics corridors crucial for NATO’s military and civilian support to Ukraine. This support, delivered through the NATO Security and Assistance Training Program (NSATU), is essential for maintaining the flow of aid and military supplies into Ukraine. The Swedish contribution also includes enhancing air and maritime surveillance capabilities.
Currently, NATO’s air surveillance in Poland is managed by four Norwegian F-35A fighter-bombers stationed at the Poznań-Krzesiny Air Base. However, the Swedish deployment will further augment NATO’s operational readiness in the region, reinforcing the alliance’s capacity to monitor and protect its airspace.
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard highlighted the importance of this mission, emphasizing that the Gripen aircraft would both protect NATO’s airspace and ensure the continued security of arms shipments to Ukraine. She also pointed out that Poland serves as a crucial logistical hub for these supplies.
Defense Minister Pål Jonson underscored the dual significance of this deployment. “This marks the first time Swedish fighter aircraft will participate in air surveillance over the territory of another NATO ally. It is also the first time Swedish aircraft will take part in NATO’s enhanced airspace monitoring mission abroad,” Jonson said.
The minister further stressed the importance of the mission in reducing the risk of potential Russian aerial aggression. He reassured that the deployment would not weaken Sweden’s own defense posture, instead contributing to its security while enhancing interoperability with NATO air forces.
