Saab to Deliver 16 Gripen E Fighter Jets to Ukraine

Swedish defense manufacturer Saab will supply Ukraine with 16 Gripen E multirole fighter jets under a contract signed with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), the company confirmed on June 30, 2026. The deal is valued at approximately SEK 24.6 billion and will be booked in the third quarter of 2026.

Saab President and CEO Micael Johansson said the agreement means “Sweden and Saab can now enable the provision of Gripen E to Ukraine, bringing a world-class fighter that will transform the Ukrainian Air Force’s capability.” The contract also covers spare parts and associated support equipment alongside the aircraft themselves.

Delivery timeline

Saab’s deliveries to FMV are scheduled for 2029-2030, placing the aircraft within a broader effort to transition Ukraine’s air force away from Soviet-era airframes toward NATO-standard platforms. Company officials indicate that pilot training and ground crew instruction programs will be phased in ahead of aircraft handover.

The wider framework behind the deal took shape in talks between Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who outlined plans for Ukraine to acquire up to 20 Gripen E/F aircraft in an initial batch, with Sweden separately committing to donate up to 16 Gripen C/D aircraft from its existing fleet.

A possible production line in Ukraine

Saab’s leadership has floated the possibility of completing final assembly of the Gripen jets inside Ukraine itself. The company’s chief executive has said Saab would be prepared to establish a factory in Ukraine to finish aircraft construction domestically — an approach that aligns with Kyiv’s broader push to build up its own defense-industrial base even as the war continues.

The Gripen E brings an upgraded radar suite, enhanced electronic warfare capabilities and greater fuel capacity compared with earlier E/F-series variants. It is also known for low operating costs and the ability to operate from short, austere runways — a characteristic that could prove valuable for Ukrainian airfields that have sustained wartime damage.

Regional and strategic significance

With this deal, Ukraine joins Brazil, Sweden, Colombia and Thailand among the operators of the Gripen E. The agreement stands as a concrete example of Europe’s long-term military support commitments to Kyiv and reinforces cooperation among NATO allies on air force modernization.

Defense industry observers suggest the contract represents more than a straightforward aircraft sale — it could mark the start of a long-term industrial partnership between Ukraine and Sweden. With deliveries set to run through 2029-2030, the Gripen E appears poised to become a central pillar of Ukraine’s postwar air force structure.

Source note: This report is based on Saab’s official press release dated June 30, 2026 (saab.com/newsroom).