Sweden also intends to donate up to 16 Gripen C/D aircraft to Ukraine. The Swedish Government has announced the allocation of funds to replace the donated Gripen aircraft.
Saab said the next steps for Ukrainian and Swedish authorities will be to complete negotiations on Ukraine’s acquisition of Gripen E/F. The company said the acquisition is expected to take place in batches, and Saab will support the process.
Dialogue on Sweden’s replacement of the donated capability is expected to begin soon. Saab said it has not signed any contract or received any order related to the announcement at this stage.
“I am very proud of today’s announcement that Sweden and Ukraine, together with Saab, are taking further steps towards giving Ukraine access to Gripen which is the world’s most advanced fighter. We look forward to supporting Ukraine’s acquisition of Gripen and the Swedish authorities in replacing the donated aircraft”, said Micael Johansson, CEO and President of Saab.
The announcements were made at a press conference in Uppsala, Sweden, on 28 May. Kristersson and Zelenskyy jointly presented their intent regarding Ukraine’s air defence capability and acquisition of Gripen.
The latest step follows a letter of intent signed by Sweden and Ukraine in October 2025 during Zelenskyy’s visit to Linköping, Sweden. Saab said that agreement on air defence cooperation laid the foundation for the announcement.
Saab said Gripen is designed to meet advanced threats in demanding environments. The fighter aircraft can take off and land at short distances and operate from temporary runways or roads.
The company said these features enable dispersed operations and high availability. Saab also said Gripen is cost-effective and easy to operate and maintain.
