Zelenskyy hails ‘historic’ deal for up to 150 Gripen fighters, first jets due in 2026

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday described as a “historic step” a deal with Sweden to buy up to 150 Saab Gripen combat aircraft, saying the first jets were expected to arrive in 2026.

Zelenskyy said the purchase would expand Ukraine’s combat aviation capacity and become a core element of the country’s long-term air-defence guarantees.

“We now have a historic step - an agreement with Sweden on Gripen combat aircraft. This is a good choice. We expect 150 such aircraft for Ukraine, the first will appear next year,” the President said.

Swedish officials have said the package could range from about 120 to 150 modern Gripen fighters, with production and deliveries stretching over a number of years. Sweden’s Prime Minister recently confirmed production was already underway and noted the programme could continue for a decade or more.

Ukrainian military officials welcomed the move. The head of the Air Force communications department said Gripen jets were an optimal fit for Ukraine’s needs and in some respects compare favourably with other advanced fighters, while Sweden’s Defence Minister has suggested that part of the purchase could be financed using frozen Russian assets.

If realised, the deal would mark one of the largest single fighter acquisitions for Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 and would boost Kyiv’s ability to protect its airspace over the long term. Ukrainian officials said work is under way to implement the agreement in full.