Sweden and Ukraine Sign Gripen E Fighter Deal Framework
The Letter of Intent marks Sweden’s largest potential defense export deal.
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Sweden and Ukraine signed on Wednesday a Letter of Intent (LOI) marking the formal start of negotiations for the potential acquisition by Kyiv of between 100 and 150 Saab JAS 39E Gripen multirole fighters. The announcement took place in Linköping, home to Saab’s headquarters, during President Volodymyr Zelensky’s official visit to Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
“Today, we are opening an entirely new and truly meaningful chapter in our relations—and in Europe’s overall security,” Zelensky declared.
“We now have the first document signed between our countries, paving the way for Ukraine to acquire a substantial fleet of Swedish-made Gripen fighters. We expect that the future contract will enable us to obtain at least 100 of these jets,” he added on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, thanking Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Saab for their willingness to cooperate.
In a message released on his official X account, Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson emphasized that the agreement “represents an important step toward deeper cooperation in air defense and air combat with Ukraine.” Jonson noted that the Swedish government “is assessing how the requested acquisition—between 100 and 150 Gripen E aircraft—could be financed.”
“With this Letter of Intent, we will deepen cooperation in air defense and air combat. Sweden supports and wants to contribute to a strong and modern Ukrainian Air Force. We have a good dialogue on how the Gripen E could become part of that force in the coming years,” Jonson stated.
According to the official communiqué from the Swedish government, the meeting between Kristersson and Zelensky was attended by several ministers, including Pål Jonson (Defense), Ebba Busch (Energy and Economy), Maria Malmer Stenergard (Foreign Affairs), and Simona Mohamsson (Education and Integration). During a joint press conference, both leaders presented what the Prime Minister’s Office described as “a milestone in the field of defense exports.”
Although no official figures were disclosed, open-source estimates suggest that the potential value of the deal could exceed USD 10 billion. If finalized, it would represent the largest export contract in Saab’s history and a major expansion of Sweden’s defense-industrial footprint in Eastern Europe.
The initiative also fits within a broader framework of strategic alignment between Sweden and Ukraine, strengthened by Sweden’s recent accession to NATO. The Nordic country has already pledged to deliver two Saab 340 AEW&C (ASC 890) airborne early warning aircraft, considered key assets for Ukraine’s airspace surveillance and command network.
The Gripen E: What Ukraine Needs
While the Letter of Intent does not yet constitute a formal contract, it provides the legal and political foundation to launch technical, industrial, and financial negotiations. If the program moves forward, it will require multinational cooperation in financing, training, and maintenance, as well as the potential establishment of a regional support and training center in Ukraine or an allied country.
“Sweden will continue to support Ukraine in the air domain, both with air defense systems and with the previously announced airborne early warning aircraft,” Minister Jonson reiterated.
The potential incorporation of the Gripen E would represent a major qualitative leap for the Ukrainian Air Force, which is seeking to modernize after more than three years of high-intensity warfare. Designed to operate in advanced threat environments, the JAS 39E combines cutting-edge avionics, the Arexis electronic warfare suite, Raven ES-05 AESA radar, and full integration with the MBDA Meteor beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile.
Unlike the F-16 MLU fighters that Kyiv is receiving from European partners, the Gripen was specifically designed to survive and operate in full-scale war scenarios against Russia, featuring dispersed operations and minimal maintenance requirements. It can operate from highways or improvised runways, be rearmed by a six-person crew in under ten minutes, and maintain high availability rates under enemy pressure.
These attributes make it an ideal platform for Ukraine’s flexible air defense doctrine, adapted to counter Russian cruise missile, ballistic, and drone attacks. The Gripen also supports the integration of targeting, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare pods, and can conduct SEAD/DEAD missions against Russian SAM systems.
The combination of the Gripen E and Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft donated by Sweden would enable Ukraine to build an interconnected air network, providing early warning, data fusion, and cooperative engagement capabilities. As noted by a Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) report, even a limited number of Gripens “could alter the air balance and force Russia to adapt its strategy.”
Cooperation between Saab and the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense is not new. Since 2024, Saab has worked with Ukrainian teams on projects to integrate AESA radars and electronic warfare suites into MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters, extending their service life and enhancing lethality.
The Letter of Intent signed in Linköping consolidates that partnership and positions Sweden as one of Ukraine’s key European defense partners in the air domai
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