On June 30, 2026, Ukraine signed a firm contract for 16 latest Swedish Gripen E fighter jets from Saab. This became possible thanks to preliminary agreements reached in May this year and financial support from European partners.
In particular, the deal will be financed through a European Union loan and with support from the United Kingdom. The deal is worth SEK 24.6 billion, or approximately €2.2 billion. The delivery period for the ordered fighter jets is 2029–2030. This marks the first time in the history of the Ukrainian Air Force that its fleet has been modernized with new aircraft.
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This means that each Saab JAS 39 Gripen E ordered by Ukraine under the contract costs €138.5 million, or roughly $158 million. However, the intergovernmental agreement signed in May between Ukraine and Sweden included the acquisition of 20 Saab JAS 39 Gripen E/F fighters, including both the single-seat E variant and the two-seat F variant. However, the announced cost of €2.5 billion — or €125 million per fighter jet — may have reflected a somewhat inaccurate interpretation of the official statement issued by the Office of the President of Ukraine.
"As a first step, the Swedish Government enables the procurement of up to 20 Gripen E/F aircraft, for which Ukraine plans to allocate 2.5 billion euros from the EU's Ukraine Support Loan."
At the same time, the number of Gripen aircraft ordered was reduced by four. The contract also provides for the supply of spare parts and additional equipment. In other words, the price increase—if it actually occurred—is entirely reasonable.
Even so, the price remains significantly lower than in Colombia's case, which in November 2025 purchased 17 Saab JAS 39 Gripen E/F aircraft for €3.135 billion — or €184.4 million per fighter — under a broader procurement package.
At the same time, this agreement is significantly more advantageous for Ukraine, as it opens the way for a much faster strengthening of the Air Force through the transfer of 16 Saab JAS 39 Gripen C/D fighter jets from the Swedish Air Force. This includes spare parts, equipment, and weapons, as well as training, which is already underway. The first aircraft are expected to arrive in early 2027.
In other words, in return for a €2.2 billion loan, Ukraine will receive 32 fighter aircraft — 16 used Saab JAS 39 Gripen C/D jets and 16 new Saab JAS 39 Gripen E fighters — together with spare parts, equipment, weapons packages, and training and support services.
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