Sweden’s package: up to 16 Gripen C/Ds, handover early 2027
After a meeting in Uppsala on May 28, 2026, Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced that Sweden will donate up to 16 Saab Gripen C/D fighters to Ukraine. Kristersson said these will be drawn from Swedish stocks to expedite delivery and that handover of the jets in Ukraine will take place in early 2027. Training of Ukrainian pilots and technicians on the Gripen C/D is already underway and, according to Swedish officials, will expand this autumn.
Gripen E/F: stated purchase intent and financing but no contract yet
Ukraine has identified the Gripen E as its long-term priority and intends to purchase an initial batch of up to 20 Gripen E/F aircraft, the Swedish government and Saab said. Swedish Minister for Defense Pål Jonson wrote that the Gripen E/F procurement would be financed with a $2.9‑billion European Union loan. Saab reiterated that it has not yet signed any contract nor received an order relating to Gripen E/F for Ukraine; the transfer remains a statement of intent and negotiations are ongoing. Kristersson added that transfers of Gripen E/F could take place by 2030 and that Sweden will replace the donated Gripen C/Ds in its own air force inventory, initiating dialogue on replacement soon.
Meteor missiles named as part of the package and the missile ranges involved
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he expects the Gripen C/Ds to be armed with the Meteor beyond‑visual‑range air‑to‑air missile. Swedish Minister Pål Jonson noted that Gripen C/D can be delivered with weapons such as IRIS‑T, AMRAAM, and the long‑range Meteor missile. The source material states the Meteor is generally considered effective against certain targets out to around 130 miles, thanks to its ramjet propulsion, active radar seeker in the terminal phase, and a two‑way datalink for in‑flight updates.
By comparison, the AIM‑120 Advanced Medium‑Range Air‑to‑Air Missile (AMRAAM) identified as in Ukrainian use — the AIM‑120C‑8 — is described as generally able to hit targets at between 75 and 100 miles. The Russian R‑37M (AA‑13 Axehead) is cited with a reported range of 124 miles against certain targets; it has been used from platforms such as Su‑35S and MiG‑31BM aircraft and has been a persistent threat to Ukrainian fighters.
Operational context: Gripen’s design and Swedish AEW&C support
The Gripen C/D was described in the source as being designed for efficiency, durability, and ease of operation under wartime conditions — serviceable by small teams and capable of operating from dispersed locations such as roads and improvised airstrips. Swedish Minister Pål Jonson said the aircraft’s traits — high readiness, rapid turnaround, modern weapons and the ability to operate under constant threat — make it highly relevant for Ukraine.
Sweden has also donated two Saab 340 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft equipped with Erieye radar. The Saab 340 AEW&C can detect and track Russian targets, prioritize threats, and direct fighters to intercept; through its datalink system it can transmit mid‑course guidance updates directly to missiles in flight. The first evidence of a Saab 340 AEW&C being used over Ukraine emerged in March 2026, though the aircraft’s activities have been described as remaining closely under wraps.
What this means for the Ukrainian Air Force, Sweden, and Saab
- Ukrainian Air Force: The donated Gripen C/Ds, combined with Meteor missiles if delivered, would introduce a new long‑range air‑to‑air capability and a platform built for dispersed operations. The package is presented as one of the most significant upgrades yet for Ukraine’s air forces, providing both a survivable fighter and a potential counter to long‑range Russian missiles and standoff attacks such as glide bombs.
- Sweden (government and military): Sweden will expedite delivery by donating secondhand Gripen C/Ds from national stocks, expand training this autumn, and plans to replace the donated aircraft in its own inventory. Sweden also proposes to finance Ukraine’s Gripen E/F purchases with a $2.9‑billion EU loan.
- Saab (manufacturer): Saab stated it will support Ukrainian and Swedish authorities in negotiations regarding Gripen E/F acquisitions but has not yet received an order or signed a contract for the E/F aircraft intended for Ukraine.
The immediate, concrete next steps described in the reporting are set: training expansion this autumn, an early‑2027 handover for up to 16 Gripen C/Ds, and ongoing negotiations for a purchase of Gripen E/F with financing penciled in by Sweden and the EU loan. Saab’s lack of a signed contract for E/F sales to Ukraine leaves the longer‑term transfer conditional on those negotiations and procurement processes.
