Seeking to pave the way for the potential induction of a significant fleet of new Gripen fighters, the Ukrainian Air Force has announced that it is preparing its first pilots to carry out training missions in Sweden, along with the technicians who will be responsible for maintaining the platforms. The news was confirmed on social media by Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal, who thanked Stockholm for the efforts being made to contribute to Kyiv’s defense against the Russian invasion.
In the same statement, Minister Shmyhal also indicated that he held a phone call with his Swedish counterpart, Pål Jonson, during which they discussed in detail the progress achieved in the supply of the aforementioned fighters to the Ukrainian Air Force. In addition, both officials exchanged information on the Russian attacks carried out last Tuesday, during which nearly 35 cruise missiles were launched—most of which, according to Shmyhal, were intercepted jointly by F-16 fighters donated by Western allies and ground-based air defense systems.
Along these lines, it is useful to recall that Kyiv intends to acquire up to 150 new Swedish-made Gripen fighters to strengthen this response capability, which currently relies mainly on the aforementioned F-16s and the Mirage 2000-5 aircraft supplied by France. In order to move forward with this procurement process, Ukraine has already taken the first step by signing the corresponding Letter of Intent during President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Sweden last October.
That decision was preceded by an extensive series of prior evaluations, which made it clear that the Gripen E variant would represent a significant capability leap for the Ukrainian Air Force, standing out in particular for its compatibility with the wide range of European and U.S. weapons available. The aircraft is also known for its ability to operate under austere conditions, as well as for requiring minimal maintenance—factors that represent a considerable logistical advantage for Ukraine.
On the other hand, Saab has previously indicated that its production lines are already prepared to begin manufacturing new aircraft to meet the demands of Ukraine and other customers of the platform. According to statements made at the time by the company’s CEO, Micael Johansson, Saab has the capacity to produce between 20 and 30 fighters per year, leaving the door open to increasing that rate should Kyiv decide to move forward with the acquisition. As previously reported, this could be made possible by Saab leveraging production capabilities in Brazil, thanks to existing agreements, as well as in Canada, where the Gripen is being promoted as a candidate for the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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