In addition to existing donations of older Gripen aircraft, Saab confirmed this week that it would sell 15 cutting-edge jets to Kyiv.

Ukraine is on track to be a future operator of the Swedish-made JAS 39 Gripen fighter jet, but it could be at least three years until the deliveries begin. However, the multirole fighters will be among the most advanced combat fighters operated by Kyiv’s military and could be part of its future security needs.

Gripen manufacturer Saab announced this week that it had officially signed the contract with the Swedish Defense Material Administration (FMV) for 16 Gripen E aircraft in a deal valued at approximately SEK 24.6 billion ($2.5 billion) for further transfer to Ukraine. In addition to the fighter jets, the contract includes spares and training equipment, with deliveries to begin in 2029 and continuing through 2030.

“I am deeply proud that Sweden and Saab can now enable the provision of Gripen E to Ukraine, bringing a world-class fighter that will transform the Ukrainian Air Force’s capability. This will significantly strengthen Ukraine’s air defence and help ensure the nation can protect its people and safeguard its future,” said Micael Johansson, president and CEO of Saab, in a company news release.

Older JAS Gripen C/D Fighters Are Already Heading to Ukraine

The deal for the newest-model Gripens was concluded only a month after Stockholm confirmed that it would donate 16 older models of the aircraft to the Ukrainian Air Force. Kyiv has sought to eventually purchase up to 150 of the Gripen E variants to bolster its defenses, though such an order is not likely to be completed until well after the end of its ongoing war with Russia.

When the Kremlin launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Ukrainian Air Force operated a mix of former Soviet aircraft from the Cold War. That included legacy Su-25 Frogfoot, MiG-29 Fulcrum, and Su-27 Flanker jets. Additional MiG-29s were donated by Poland and Slovakia, both former Eastern Bloc states with holdover jets from the Soviet era.

“As a fraction of that fleet continues operating today, they have since been joined by donated Lockheed Martin F-16s from several countries and Dassault Mirages from France,” Aviation Week reported.

Even as those aircraft have greatly aided Ukraine’s war effort, Kyiv’s transition to donated Western aircraft has been heavily constrained by an ongoing training and operational bottleneck.

The JAS 39 Gripen’s Specifications

• Year Introduced: 1996
• Number Built: ~300
• Length: 14.9 m (48 ft 11 in) JAS 39C/E / 15.6 m (51 ft) JAS 39D/F
• Height: 4.5 m (14 ft 9 in)
• Wingspan: ~8.4 m (27 ft 6 in)
• Weight (MTOW): 14,000 kg (30,865 lb)
• Engines: GE F414G in the E/F variants
• Top Speed: ~2,460 km/h (1,530 mph) / Mach 2 
• Range: 800 km (500 mi, 430 nmi)
• Service Ceiling: 15,240 m (50,000 ft)
• Loadout: 27 mm Mauser BK-27 cannon (omitted on two-seat variants), including air-to-air missiles such as the AIM-9 Sidewinder, air-to-ground missiles such as the AGM-65 Maverick, and anti-ship missiles such as the RBS-15
• Aircrew: 1–2, depending on variant

Why Does Ukraine Like the Gripen So Much?

Saab has long touted the Gripen as a cost-effective alternative to the F-35 Lightning II. Although the Swedish aircraft lacks the stealth capabilities of the fifth-generation fighter, it has far lower operating costs. It is also seen as a more rugged aircraft; it can operate from austere military bases, and Stockholm regularly conducts exercises that see the jets land on remote highways, highlighting its ability to quickly land, refuel, rearm and return to the fight.

The Gripen’s simplicity and ruggedness have been major selling points, especially in a modern conflict where conventional bases and facilities can be taken out of action in the early stages of a conflict.

“Gripen is designed to address advanced threats in demanding environments,” Saab explained of the aircraft. “Operational flexibility and resilience enable operations from short stretches, temporary runways or roads, supporting dispersed operations and high availability.”

The aerospace firm also noted that the Gripen’s software-based architecture “facilitates continuous upgrades and adaption to evolving operational requirements.”

The Gripen also has a significant advantage over the older F-16 Fighting Falcon or Mirage 2000 fighter jets: it is easier to fly, thanks to its highly automated systems and user-friendly human-machine interface.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciuhascontributedto dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also acontributing writerfor Forbes andClearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter:@PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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