Full Breakdown
Sweden Plans Additional Gripen E Jets to Offset Ukraine Transfer
7/22/2026, 11:03:01 PM
Core Event
Sweden has announced that an extra batch of twelve JAS 39 Gripen E fighters will be added to its procurement cycle to replace the older Gripen C/D aircraft earmarked for donation to Ukraine. The addition would raise the Swedish fleet to 72 aircraft, up from the 60-plane order placed in 2013. The plan is described as a “stated intention” rather than a signed contract, with no specific price or delivery date attached.
Background & Context
Sweden’s first Gripen E entered service in October 2025, and only a handful have been flown operationally. At the Farnborough air show scheduled for 20 July 2026, Chief of the Swedish Air Force Maj. Gen. Jonas Wikman explained that the C/D jets will be transferred to Kyiv beginning in early 2027. A separate agreement signed on 30 June 2026 provides Ukraine with 16 new-build Gripen E jets for delivery in 2029–2030, valued at roughly SEK 24.6 billion (?US$2.5 billion). Ukraine has expressed a long-term ambition to acquire up to 150 Swedish fighters.
Data & Statistics
- Original order (2013): 60 Gripen E
- Planned addition: 12 Gripen E -> total 72 aircraft
- First Swedish Gripen E delivery: October 2025
- Saab’s production target: 25–30 Gripen per year (about double current output)
- Ukraine’s pending purchase: 16 Gripen E (2029-2030) worth SEK 24.6 bn
- Ukraine’s stated goal: up to 150 Swedish jets
Official Statements & Responses
Saab President and CEO Micael Johansson noted that the company is aiming to double its annual output to 25–30 aircraft, enabling the additional procurement while meeting existing customer commitments.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We are naturally looking forward to be a provider of continued support to Ukraine,” — Maj. Gen. Jonas Wikman, Chief of the Swedish Air Force
