Although there are no confirmed plans to send JAS 39 Gripen fighters to Ukraine, the Swedish government recently stated that the possibility of transferring them to the Ukrainian Air Force remains open. This news was initially suggested in October 2023, when Sweden tasked its Armed Forces with evaluating the feasibility of transferring Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighters as part of a new military aid package.
Recently, it was revealed that the new $440 million package includes $220 million for acquiring new “material kits” for operational JAS-39C/D Gripen fighters. These kits will be used to maintain the operational status of the Gripen JAS-39 C/D variants for a potential donation to Ukraine.
“At this moment, transferring the JAS Gripen to Ukraine is not relevant, as it would interfere with the introduction of the F-16,” according to a statement from the Swedish Government Offices (Regeringskansliet). “However, the government continues to work on creating the conditions to potentially support Ukraine with the JAS-39 Gripen at a later stage. The material kits are parts of the JAS-39C/D used in the construction of the new JAS-39E. By acquiring these material kits, we create the conditions to potentially donate a number of JAS-39C/D, instead of dismantling material kits from operational JAS-39C/D fighters.”
Currently, Sweden has around 97 Gripen fighters of the C and D variants in service. Although there were plans to phase out all C/D variants in favor of the E models, this was reconsidered following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, leading Stockholm to decide on maintaining a larger combat fleet.
The War Zone reports that, in the long term, Sweden plans to have 120 Gripens in service by 2030, with half being E variants. This would leave approximately 37 C/D models potentially available for Ukraine, though the actual number may be somewhat lower due to infrastructure and other factors. These plans, however, are at odds with Ukraine’s focus on acquiring F-16 Vipers, as expressed by the Swedish Foreign Minister in July.
On the other hand, Ukrainian Air Force Chief General Serhii Holubtsov previously mentioned that Ukrainian infrastructure is ready to accommodate Gripens. “We are taking steps to maintain our freedom of action in order to donate Gripens to Ukraine at a potential later stage,” said Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson, according to the Swedish media Aftonbladet.
The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is seen as an excellent candidate to equip the Ukrainian Air Force due to its low logistical footprint, capability to operate from limited infrastructure, and relatively low human resource demands compared to similar systems. The Gripen offers a wide range of armament, both air-to-air and air-to-ground, which is a requirement for Ukraine. However, the limited number of aircraft in service compared to the F-16 is a drawback.
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