Sweden Begins Gripen Pilot Training for Ukraine; 36 Jets Expected
Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson announced that training for Ukrainian pilots on Gripen fighters has begun and will expand. Ukraine plans to buy 20 Gripen E/F jets for €2.5 billion, while Sweden will provide 16 Gripen C/D jets as aid. This initiative is part of a larger plan for up to 150 Gripen jets over the next decade.
Training for Ukrainian pilots and technical personnel on Swedish Gripen fighters has commenced and will expand this fall, announced Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson on X. This follows a deal where Ukraine plans to purchase up to 20 new Gripen E/F jets for €2.5 billion (approximately $2.7 billion) using an EU loan.
Sweden intends to transfer 16 older Gripen C/D jets as bilateral aid once the purchase begins. This initial package of up to 36 jets is part of a broader framework, signed in October 2025, for up to 150 Gripen jets over the next decade. Jonson stated that Gripen C/D addresses urgent needs, while Gripen E/F builds future air power.
Saab can produce 20 to 30 aircraft annually, with a delivery schedule tailored to Ukraine's requirements. Ukraine also aims to localize Gripen production from 2033. The Gripen C/D can carry the long-range Meteor air-to-air missile, potentially pushing Russian aircraft launching guided glide bombs further from the front. The Gripen E, powered by a General Electric F414G engine, has a top speed near Mach 2 and a combat radius over 800 kilometers. It features the Raven ES-05 AESA radar, Saab Arexis electronic-warfare suite, and up to 7.2 tonnes of payload. In May 2025, the Gripen E became the first fighter flown under artificial-intelligence control.