Sweden to donate 16 Gripen jets, support purchase of 20 more

Sweden has announced a major military support package for Ukraine that includes the donation of 16 Gripen fighter jets and support for Ukraine's purchase of up to 20 newer models. The agreement was formalized during a joint briefing between Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Uppsala Air Base on May 28.

The package consists of two primary components. Sweden will donate 16 JAS 39 Gripen CD aircraft from its existing fleet. This donation is contingent upon Ukraine signing an agreement to purchase Gripen EF aircraft. According to Swedish officials, the first donated jets could begin defending Ukrainian airspace as early as next year. Concurrently, Sweden is enabling the sale of up to 20 newer Gripen EF aircraft to Ukraine. Negotiations for this purchase are ongoing, with deliveries of the new models estimated to begin before 2030.

Ukraine plans to allocate 2.5 billion euros from the European Union's Ukraine Support Loan to finance the procurement of the Gripen EF jets. President Zelensky stated that Ukraine expects to receive the first capabilities related to the aircraft within the next 10 months and confirmed that Ukrainian pilots...