Military — 2026-07-03

Ukraine and Swedish FMV Finalize EUR 2.22 Billion Contract for 16 Gripen E Fighters With UK Manufacturing Role

BLUFBy unlocking donated Gripen C/D transfers, the E-model contract likely puts Western fighters in Ukrainian hands by March 2027, years before new-build deliveries arrive.

Ukraine and Sweden's Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) signed the Gripen E contract on June 30 during a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson, with FMV's parallel order to Saab valued at SEK 24.6 billion, financed through an EU support loan and booked in the third quarter 123. Deliveries, including spare parts and support equipment, are scheduled for 2029-2030 13. The UK Ministry of Defence said more than 30 percent of each aircraft will be built in Britain by over 50 UK suppliers, including radar and landing-gear components 12. Jonson said the deal also clears Sweden's planned donation of 16 Gripen C/D jets in early 2027 and called it the first step toward Ukraine's stated goal of acquiring up to 150 Gripen E/F aircraft over time 123.

Analysis
Sweden will likely begin transferring the first of the 16 donated Gripen C/D jets by the end of March 2027, giving Ukrainian pilots already training in Sweden a modern multirole fighter years ahead of the 2029 Gripen E deliveries. The formal FMV-Saab contract, EU-loan financed and booked this quarter, removes the conditionality that had tied the C/D donation to completion of the E-model purchase. Confidence is high, resting on Stockholm's explicit linkage of the two tranches and pilot training already underway rather than inference, and sourcing shows broad, independent corroboration across one primary Ukrainian release and three separately reporting outlets aligned on value, schedule, and UK content. The heavy emphasis on UK-built content, over 30 percent of each airframe across 50-plus suppliers, may reflect political signaling to secure British funding support as much as industrial necessity; a slip in the C/D handover would force continued reliance on aging Soviet-era fighters and renewed appeals for interim capability.

4 sources

Ukraine Gripen E Contract Finalized - The Aviationist
Ukraine signs $2.5 billion contract with Sweden for Gripen E deliveries by 2029 - Breaking Defense
Gripen E Fighters Officially Ordered By Ukraine - The War Zone (TWZ)
Strengthening the protection of Ukraine's skies: agreement signed to procure Gripen E fighter aircraft - Ukraine Ministry of Defence