Ukraine set to acquire Swedish aircraft outfitted with Israeli systems

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson signed a memorandum of intent over the past weekend concerning the potential delivery of up to 150 Gripen fighter jets, manufactured by the SAAB Group, to the Ukrainian Air Force.

The agreement remains in the negotiation and coordination phase. At a later stage, it will require approval from the Israeli Ministry of Defence, as the Gripen aircraft are equipped with displays and threat recognition systems from the Israeli firm Elbit Systems, as well as external targeting and guidance pods developed by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson recently said that Sweden would sell Ukraine between 120 and 150 Gripen fighters under a long-term agreement lasting 10-15 years. According to him, production has already begun.

Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson also said that some of the aircraft could be purchased using frozen Russian assets.

The Series E Gripen fighter jets that Ukraine plans to acquire are the newest version of Sweden’s multirole aircraft, which officially entered Swedish service this week.

Saab, the jet’s manufacturer, describes the Gripen E as “made for forward-thinking air forces,” featuring cutting-edge systems, sensors, and weapons designed to deliver air superiority in contested environments.

By Vafa Guliyeva