Saab’s CEO: “Gripen E Could Reach Ukraine in Three Years”
Saab prepares to expand production in Linköping to meet Ukraine’s fighter needs.
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Saab CEO Michael Johansson confirmed that the Swedish company could deliver the first JAS 39E Gripen fighters to Ukraine within three years, once a formal contract is signed following the Letter of Intent (LoI) concluded between both governments on October 22 in Linköping.
In an interview with public broadcaster SVT, Johansson described the understanding between Sweden and Ukraine as “a strategic decision of enormous political and industrial significance,” while emphasizing that no formal contract has yet been signed.
“It is an extremely important political handshake marking our shared strategic direction. But I want to stress that there is no contract at this stage,” the executive noted.
The announcement by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and President Volodymyr Zelensky marked the beginning of negotiations for the potential purchase of between 100 and 150 Gripen E multirole fighters, which would represent the largest defense export deal in Saab’s history.
“Today we have signed an important Letter of Intent marking a step toward a possible, massive export deal for the Gripen – likely between 100 and 150 fighter aircraft – to build a new and very strong Ukrainian Air Force.”
— Ulf Kristersson, Prime Minister of Sweden, October 22, 2025
Industrial Expansion and International Cooperation
Johansson stated that production at Saab’s Linköping facilities will need to increase significantly, leading to new hirings and expanded industrial capacity.
“This will mean a considerable number of new positions on the production line,” he said, without specifying figures. Saab is also considering shifting part of the assembly work abroad to meet delivery timelines.
“If the agreement is finalized, we will work with industrial partners in other countries. We already have a production hub in Brazil capable of manufacturing aircraft, and we could develop similar cooperation with the Ukrainian industry,” Johansson explained.
The CEO reaffirmed that Saab has the capacity to ramp up manufacturing, though program financing remains a key issue. “Planning must start right away. We are waiting for the final political approval to move forward. There is no contract yet, but we can begin certain preparatory steps,” he added.
A Strategic Project for Sweden and Ukraine
The preliminary agreement, signed in the presence of Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson and Minister for Energy and Economy Ebba Busch, reflects the deepening strategic alignment between Sweden—now a NATO member—and Ukraine, with the goal of strengthening Europe’s air defense architecture against the Russian threat.
For Ukraine, the acquisition of the Gripen E would represent a major technological leap over its current MiG-29 and Su-27 fleets, offering the Raven ES-05 AESA radar, Arexis electronic warfare suite, and full integration with the European MBDA Meteor beyond-visual-range (BVR) missile.
Designed to operate from short or improvised runways with low maintenance requirements and high survivability, the Gripen E is widely regarded as one of the most adaptable fighters for the dispersed operations doctrine Ukraine has adopted to counter ongoing Russian missile and drone attacks.
Industrial Impact and Outlook
According to open-source estimates, the deal could exceed USD 10 billion, creating thousands of jobs in Sweden and opening the door to technological cooperation with Ukrainian industry.
“The combination of Gripen E fighters and the Saab 340 AEW&C early warning aircraft donated by Sweden would allow Ukraine to build an integrated air architecture, with cooperative detection and combat capabilities,” noted a recent Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) report on Ukraine’s air defense strategy.
If finalized, the Gripen E program would cement Saab’s role as a key player in the reconstruction and Westernization of the Ukrainian Air Force, while positioning Sweden as a new strategic defense supplier for Eastern Europe.
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