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Sweden signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Ukraine to supply up to 150 domestically produced Gripen E fighter jets, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced Wednesday following talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in southern Sweden.
The two leaders met in Linkoping and visited Saab, which manufactures the JAS 39 Gripen fighter, GlobalEye surveillance aircraft, missile systems, and anti-tank infantry weapons.
Kristersson said the countries signed a long-term cooperation agreement on air defenses that includes the possibility of exporting 100 to 150 newly produced Gripen E fighter jets. "We fully realise it's a long road ahead of us," Kristersson said with a Gripen in Swedish livery in the background.
"But from today we are committed to exploring all the possibilities in providing Ukraine with a large amount of Gripen fighters in the future," he noted.
"The memorandum is not aimed at immediate donations but represents the start of a long journey spanning 10 to 15 years," Kristersson clarified.
"A strong and capable Ukraine is a key priority for Sweden, and we will continue to make sure Ukraine can fight back against Russia's aggression," Kristersson said.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine expects to acquire no fewer than 100 Gripen jets through the future contract. "We have started the work to obtain Gripens to Ukraine and expect the future contract to allow us to acquire no less than 100 such jets," Zelenskyy said through a translator.
Zelenskyy described the Gripen as "a strong aviation platform capable of carrying out a wide range of missions."
The Gripen represents a rugged and relatively low-cost option compared to aircraft such as the U.S. F-35. Ukrainian pilots have tested the Gripen in Sweden to facilitate eventual export of the jets.
The Gripen has been in commission since 1996. Saab has produced approximately 280 aircraft in total. Sweden has ordered 60 of the latest Gripen E model. Saab is increasing production capacity in Linkoping, aiming to produce 20 to 30 planes annually within a couple of years. Saab is also building Gripens in Brazil.
The JAS 39 Gripen is a light 4.5-generation fighter jet capable of both defensive and offensive tasks. Kyiv and Stockholm have repeatedly discussed supplying the aircraft to Ukraine's Air Force, which already operates Western aircraft including the Mirage 2000 and F-16s.
Consideration of supplying Gripens to Ukraine has been under review for two years but was put on hold to allow Kyiv to focus on introducing American-made F-16 fighters, which Ukraine began deploying in August.
After his visits to Norway and Sweden, Zelenskyy is expected to visit Brussels on October 23 and subsequently London to join a European-led "Coalition of the Willing" meeting scheduled for October 24.
Zelenskyy's Nordic visits come days after a tense meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, during which Trump declined to arm Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles and reportedly pushed Russia's territorial demands. Trump later suggested pausing hostilities along current front lines, a proposal supported by Zelenskyy and other European leaders in a joint statement on October 21.
European partners are backing Kyiv amid uncertainties about Washington's next move. Trump announced October 16 a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest in coming weeks, but Washington said days later the plan is being shelved for now.
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