Saab has officially entered into a contract to supply 16 new-build Gripen E fighter aircraft to Ukraine. The agreement, facilitated through the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, is valued at approximately $2.5 billion and represents a definitive industrial commitment following recent government-level negotiations.
Deliveries for the new-build aircraft are slated for 2029 and 2030. The contract includes a comprehensive support package consisting of spare parts and technical equipment. Before these modern jets arrive, Sweden will supply 16 surplus Gripen C/D fighters to help Ukrainian personnel transition to the platform starting in 2027.
The Gripen E is equipped with an AESA radar, an enhanced electronic warfare suite, and the General Electric F414 engine. Its design focuses on operational flexibility, allowing for rapid refueling and rearming on short or austere runways. This capability is expected to align with current Ukrainian strategies for mobile, dispersed operations. As Ukraine integrates the Gripen E alongside other Western-made platforms like the F-16 and Mirage 2000, this procurement underscores a long-term shift toward standardized NATO-aligned air power in the region.