Will Ukraine receive Saab Gripen fighter jets after all? Let’s put it this way – if so, then probably from 2026. The JAS-39 Gripen was already ordered by Kiev before the Russian major attack in 2022 (-> current news from the Ukraine war) as a candidate for the modernization of the Ukrainian air force. And a support package announced in September 2024 support package announced by Stockholm in September 2024 amounting to a good 400 million euros contained wording that would support a future delivery of the Gripen.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyj, stated in February that “negotiations on the transfer of C/D-class Gripen to Ukraine are underway”. “We have agreed with the Swedish Chief of General Staff to continue the dialog on meeting the requirements of the Ukrainian Air Force – in particular on the provision of Swedish aircraft.”
Sweden did not want to complicate F-16 introduction logistically
Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson also spoke of a Ukrainian request for Gripen fighter jets back in February 2023. During President Volodymyr Selensky’s visit to Sweden in August 2023, it became known that Ukrainian pilots had allegedly already completed their first test flights with the Gripen.
However, Sweden made it clear in 2024 that its priority was not to further increase the logistical burden on Ukraine in the course of introducing the F-16s donated by European states.
In addition, Ukraine had also received and already deployed six of possibly ten French Mirage 2000-5s that year. Given the large number of new aircraft types in a system heavily burdened by the war, this was an understandable argument. Nevertheless, Minister Jonson stated on November 22, 2024: “The last package included spare parts for up to 14 Gripen included.”
Although Stockholm prioritized the successful integration of the F-16, the Gripen is seen as an ideal complement to the F-16, Mirage and existing Russian models due to its mobility and low logistical effort. While Kiev is satisfied with the performance of the F-16 in drone defense missions the Gripen is significantly lower maintenance, requires fewer personnel and can also operate on short (870 meters) or improvised runways – for example in the case of the the operation on road sections practiced by Sweden.
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This flexibility is a significant advantage, as airfields are regularly the target of Russian missile attacks. One caveat is that the Gripen can carry a smaller selection of weapons and Sweden only has limited numbers available. Nevertheless, experts such as Tim Robinson consider it to be the most suitable option at present.
Saab would support Gripen delivery
In any case, the manufacturer Saab supports a possible delivery. CEO Micael Johansson said on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference: “This would be a good signal for Ukraine, as Russia has fired thousands of missiles and glide bombs at military and civilian targets, including airfields. Without anticipating political conclusions, I very much hope that this will happen.” At the same time, he emphasized that he had no insight into the decision-making processes for approving such a delivery.
A further indication of the feasibility of the negotiations mentioned by Syrskyj is the fact that the Swedish Air Force (“Flygvapnet”) wants to modernize 60 of 74 older C/D aircraft and retire 14 in addition to the planned 60 new Gripen E aircraft. These upgradesannounced at the end of 2024, include the MS20 Block 3 package (from 2026), which improves electronic warfare systems and data links. The MS20 Block 4 update will follow by 2028 with the integration of the PS-05/A-Mk4 radar, which will increase range and precision and better support modern weapons.
Bottlenecks in training
As early as 2023, Ukraine pushed for an intensification of F-16 pilot training, as the US Air National Guard program in Tucson (Arizona) does not offer enough places. Ukraine reported 30 pilots who could start training immediately, but the US government stated that a maximum of twelve could be trained at the same time. Basic jet training and a focused English course are also required before F-16 training (only five of the first group were exempt).
Basic training can also take place in NATO countries without F-16s – for example in the United Kingdom, which wants to train 200 Ukrainian pilots. However, facilities in Denmark and Romania also reported shortages of training places in 2023. In June 2024, however, Denmark’s Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen stated that around 20 Ukrainian pilots would be trained at Skrydstrup Air Base by the end of the year.
With regard to the tactical retraining (OCU) of Ukrainian pilots, the European F-16 Training Center (EFTC) in Romania – an F-16 user with aircraft from Norway and Portugal – is working on the training of Ukrainian pilots, according to information from Defense Romania has only been operating at full capacity since December 2024. This was made possible by the donation of 18 F-16s by the Netherlands and trainers from Lockheed Martin.
Training soon in the Czech Republic?
The Czech Republic is a new addition: Prime Minister Petr Fiala declared on May 5 that his country is also prepared to train Ukrainian fighter pilots – either on Aero L-39s or F-16s, together with partner countries. The Náměšť nad Oslavou military airfield was mentioned as a possible location. However, it is unclear whether this training only concerns basic jet training or whether a transfer to F-16 training units – for example to Romania – is planned after around six to eight months of training on L-39s. Or whether F-16s from European donations would be transferred to Náměšť.
Should Ukraine receive the 14 decommissioned Gripen C/Ds, which Sweden is still open to deploying, Czech know-how in training could be useful. However, there would hardly be enough aircraft available for an OCU on Gripen in the Czech Republic itself – also due to the reduced fleet size as a result of the planned leasing until 2035.
Second total loss
On May 7, the Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that one of its F-16 fighter jets had been shot down during a combat mission in the east of the country on April 12 – the pilot was killed.
It was the second loss of an F-16 in Ukrainian operations; the first was a crash in August last year, also with a fatal outcome. The Ukrainian Air Force stated: “26-year-old Pavlo Ivanov died during a combat mission in an F-16 aircraft. We extend our deepest condolences to his family. He was killed in action for the defense of his homeland.”
