The Ukrainian Air Force is set to receive its first JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets on Thursday, May 28, during a formal handover ceremony in Sweden.
The Swedish government has announced an event on "international cooperation in the aviation sector," scheduled to take place at an Air Base near Uppsala and attended by the country's prime minister. Aftonbladet reports, citing its own sources, that the talks focus on the transfer of Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine, involving several aircraft.
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From Defense Express we would like to note that Uppsala is home to the Air Warfare Centre. Ukrainian pilots may have undergone or are still undergoing training at this base to operate Gripen fighter jets. The delivery of these aircraft has also been announced for 2026.
It is not yet known how many fighter jets Sweden will provide, but the government's decision to allocate components for 14 JAS 39 Gripen aircraft for Ukraine indicates a potential maximum number of jets that could be prepared.
It should be noted that the aircraft in question are the single-seat C variant and the two-seat D variant. The standard configuration for a fleet of 14 fighters includes two two-seat aircraft for training and command roles, and 12 single-seat fighters.
The Gripen C/D models, which are currently in service and form the backbone of the Swedish Air Force, are less capable than the newer E/F variants, whose introduction into service is still in its early stages. The transition to newer variants of the fighter jet is the reason why Sweden may transfer used aircraft to Ukraine.
At the same time, information on the number and type of fighter jets being transferred could serve as a key indicator of the Ukrainian Air Force's readiness to operate the Gripen. If only two-seat variants are provided, the transfer would most likely involve aircraft intended for pilot training in Sweden. In other words, this would mark only the beginning of the training phase for Ukrainian pilots. However, the transfer of single-seat aircraft would suggest that they are combat-ready.
It is also possible that an announcement will be made during the ceremonies regarding progress on Ukraine's planned procurement of 100–150 Gripen fighters in the latest E/F variant. Although this intention was first announced in October 2025, the main obstacle to a firm contract has been funding. However, with the release of a €90 billion loan for Ukraine, such a deal has become more feasible.
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