The aircraft will remain mainly based in Sweden and fly missions in Polish airspace, with support from a smaller forward operating base in Poland. Their tasks include protecting the south-eastern Polish hub used to channel military and civil assistance to Ukraine.
“The serious security situation and repeated violations of NATO airspace demonstrate the need for a high level of military readiness along the eastern flank,” said Defence Minister Pål Jonson. “Swedish fighter jets will contribute to the defence of Allied airspace and to protect important logistical flows of military support to Ukraine.”
The mission will be Sweden’s second fighter contribution to protecting the logistics hub in Poland. Swedish aircraft also participated in NATO’s enhanced airspace surveillance over Poland in 2025.
“For the second time, Swedish fighter jets will be taking part in airspace surveillance over Poland to protect NATO’s airspace and ensure the continued delivery of vital support to Ukraine,” said Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. “Jointly with our friends and Allies in NATO, we strengthen the security of Sweden, Europe and NATO.”
“Swedish and Euro-Atlantic security are built together with our Allies,” said Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard. “By providing Swedish Gripen fighter jets to contribute to NATO’s defence of Allied airspace along the Eastern flank, we are strengthening the security of Sweden and our Allies, and securing continued support to Ukraine, which is our foremost foreign policy objective.”
