Key facts
- Ukraine signed a deal with Sweden to purchase 16 Gripen E fighter jets.
- The agreement includes related equipment, technical assistance, and support.
- Deliveries of Gripen C/D variants are expected in early 2027.
- Discussions covered drone initiatives and anti-ballistic capabilities.
- Sweden has provided significant military support to Ukraine since 2022.
Ukraine has signed an agreement with Sweden to purchase 16 Gripen E fighter jets, as announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky on June 30. The deal includes a package of related equipment, technical assistance, and support. This acquisition follows previous agreements for Ukraine to receive its first 16 Gripen C/D fighter jets in early 2027. President Zelensky met with Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson to discuss the implementation of the agreement and broader bilateral defense cooperation, including a drone initiative and anti-ballistic capabilities. Sweden has been a significant military supporter of Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, providing tanks, artillery, armored vehicles, and reconnaissance planes. The Gripen E is a multirole fighter aircraft designed for dispersed wartime operations and can carry a range of NATO weapons.