Ukraine expects to receive its first Saab Gripen C/D fighters from Sweden in January or February 2027, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said the aircraft could help intercept Russian attack drones.
Speaking to journalists on November 10, Zelenskyy said Kyiv was pressing Stockholm to accelerate the transfer, although the delivery schedule had not been finalized. February appears to be the more likely date, according to his remarks reported by Ukrainian media.
The aircraft would come from the Swedish Air Force's existing fleet, rather than the newer Gripen E variant ordered by Ukraine. Sweden has announced plans to provide up to 16 Gripen C/D fighters, with the first deliveries expected in early 2027.
Ukrainian pilots and technicians are already undergoing Gripen training in Sweden, according to the Swedish government and Ukraine's presidency. The program was underway by May 2026, following familiarization flights conducted in 2023. However, neither country has disclosed how many pilots are being trained or whether they will be ready for combat operations when the first aircraft arrive.
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Ukraine also signed an agreement in June to purchase 16 new Gripen E fighters, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2029. The two arrangements would allow the Ukrainian Air Force to introduce the Swedish fighter several years before receiving its more advanced version.
Gripen to join F-16 and Mirage 2000 fighters
The Swedish aircraft will join a Ukrainian fighter fleet that already includes Western-supplied F-16s and French Mirage 2000-5s. Both types have been used to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses alongside its Soviet-designed aircraft.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine intends to evaluate the Gripen's ability to intercept Shahed attack drones, which Russia has used extensively against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. The president did not claim that the Swedish aircraft had already demonstrated this capability in Ukrainian service.
The Ukrainian leader also reiterated the need for additional F-16 fighters. Although the American-designed aircraft have proved useful against Russian aerial threats, the available fleet remains insufficient, and some aircraft are temporarily unavailable because of maintenance and repairs.
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Sweden's proposed Gripen C/D transfer includes support equipment and potentially weapons, although the precise configuration of the first aircraft has not been confirmed. The Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile has been discussed in connection with the Swedish assistance package, but its inclusion in the initial deliveries remains uncertain.
The Gripen C/D was designed to operate from dispersed bases with relatively limited ground support. Those characteristics could be useful for Ukraine, whose airfields remain vulnerable to Russian missile and drone attacks.
