Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed a letter of intent to export up to 150 Gripen fighter jets from Saab to Ukraine. The Gripen is a fourth-generation, multi-role fighter jet designed for various missions, including air-to-air combat and reconnaissance. It offers a lower-cost alternative compared to more expensive fifth-generation planes like the F-35.
Developed since the 1980s, the Gripen has been in service since 1996 and has undergone several upgrades. The latest version, Gripen E, was first delivered to the Swedish Air Force in October. Over 280 Gripens have been produced, and they have recently been used in direct combat by Thailand. Previously, the Gripen was mainly used for air policing missions, including a NATO mission in Poland and enforcing a no-fly zone in Libya in 2014.
Sweden has relied on Saab for air force supplies since World War Two and recently joined NATO in 2024. The Gripen competes with other fighter jets such as the F-35 and Rafale and has been exported to several countries, including South Africa and Brazil. The Gripen E measures over 15 meters long, weighs 16.5 tonnes, and can be refueled and rearmed quickly.
Small, Smart, and Deadly: The Gripen, Ukraine’s Dream Jet
The Gripen is a fourth-generation, multi-role fighter jet designed for various missions, including air-to-air combat and reconnaissance. It offers a lower-cost alternative compared to more expensive fifth-generation planes like the F-35.
