Zelenskyy makes shocking move, set to make Trump angry as Ukraine decides not to buy…, strikes a deal with…
The Gripen aircraft has been in service since 1996. The first aircraft of its latest variant, the Gripen E, was delivered to the Swedish Air Force in October. In total, more than 280 Gripen aircraft have been built.
Amid the ongoing war with Russia, Ukraine has taken a significant initiative to upgrade its air force. To replace its aging fighter aircraft, Ukraine has signed a deal with Sweden to purchase 150 Saab Gripen fighter jets. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the agreement on October 22 at a press conference in Linköping, Sweden.
According to the Swedish government, the number of units to be supplied to Ukraine could be between 100 and 150. Kristersson stated that this deal is a step toward a potential larger export deal involving the Gripen. Zelensky has described the acquisition of the Gripen as a top priority for Ukraine’s defense strategy. He has stressed the need to replace older Soviet aircraft and incorporate modern Western platforms.
According to Swedish media, the Gripen was used in direct combat for the first time this year, when Thailand deployed the fighter jets in a conflict with Cambodia. Previously, the Gripen has been used primarily for air policing and was deployed to Poland in 2025 as part of a NATO mission to patrol allied airspace.
Sweden’s Gripen competes with Lockheed Martin’s F-35 and F-16, and Dassault Aviation’s Rafale and Eurofighter, which have been exported to South Africa, Thailand, Brazil, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. Colombia has also decided to purchase the Gripen. The aircraft has been in service since 1996. The first aircraft of its latest version, the Gripen E, was delivered to the Swedish Air Force in October. In total, more than 280 Gripen aircraft have been produced.
What is the speciality of Gripen fighter jet?
The Saab Gripen E is a high-tech multirole fighter jet developed by the Swedish aerospace company Saab. It is billed as a fourth-generation lightweight, single-engine supersonic jet capable of aerial combat, bombing, and reconnaissance missions. The Gripen E is described as a “smart fighter,” offering a powerful combination of maneuverability, low cost, high availability, and advanced sensor fusion technology essential for modern warfare.
Gripen E performance
Its maximum speed is Mach 2 (approximately 2,400 km/h). It has 10 hardpoints (weapon and external tank mounting locations), allowing it to carry a variety of air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons. It is also capable of taking off from rough or temporary runways. It has an increased fuel capacity, giving it a maximum range of approximately 4,000 km.
What weapons can be deployed?
It can carry a variety of advanced weapons, including the Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile, the IRIS-T short-range infrared guided missile, laser-guided and other precision-guided bombs, and anti-ship missiles. It is also armed with a 27mm Mauser BK-27 cannon.
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