Sweden plans to supply 150 Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine

Sweden has signed a memorandum of understanding to export 150 Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced after a meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Swedish city of Linköping.

The two countries signed an agreement on long-term cooperation in the field of air defense, which provides for the possibility of supplying 100 to 150 newly produced Gripen E fighter jets. “We are fully aware that we have a long way to go, but from today we are determined to explore all possibilities to provide Ukraine with these jets in the future,” Kristersson said.

Zelensky said Ukraine had already begun work on procuring Gripen aircraft and expected the future contract to enable the purchase of at least 100 aircraft. Ukrainian pilots had already tested the aircraft in Sweden.

Swedish manufacturer Saab has produced around 280 Gripen jets to date. The latest model, Gripen E, is currently being manufactured for the Swedish Armed Forces, which has ordered 60 units. Saab plans to produce 20 to 30 aircraft per year in the future.

Before his visit to Sweden, Zelensky made a brief stop in Oslo, where Norway pledged 1.5 billion kroner to Ukraine for gas purchases.

(reuters, lud)