Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson signed a letter of intent on Wednesday during Zelenskyy’s visit to Stockholm, setting in motion what could become one of Ukraine’s largest postwar defense acquisitions — a plan to purchase between 100 and 150 Saab JAS 39 Gripen E fighter jets.
While not yet a binding contract, the agreement commits both sides to developing frameworks for production, financing, and delivery over the next 10 to 15 years. Zelenskyy told reporters that the deal should cover “no less than 100 aircraft,” while Kristersson noted that full-scale implementation would take time, predicting that the first deliveries might begin in 2028. Zelenskyy, however, expressed hope that some aircraft could arrive as early as 2026.
Currently, Saab produces roughly a dozen Gripen jets per year, though Stockholm has said it could increase that number to 20 annually — still a limited output that makes large, rapid deliveries to Ukraine improbable.
Over the Cold War, Sweden, which remained neutral, maintained a large military industrial capacity to ensure its neutrality, though since the end of the Cold War, much like the rest of NATO countries, its capacity has significantly dwindled.
Wednesday’s announcement, though extraordinary on paper, may do little to address Kiev’s immediate operational needs. Ukraine already operates a small fleet of Western-supplied F-16s and French Rafales, though both aircraft types have seen little front-line action despite being hailed as potential “game changers.” Since taking delivery of its first F-16s last August, Ukraine has reportedly lost at least six jets — some to crashes during missions to intercept Russian drones launched deep inside Ukrainian territory.
The prospective Gripen deal, estimated to exceed $20 billion, underscores both Ukraine’s long-term ambition to rebuild and modernize its air force and the deep uncertainty surrounding its future on the battlefield. Even under optimistic projections, the first Swedish aircraft would arrive years after the current conflict may have already reached its conclusion.