All articles tagged with #gripen
A Hungarian Air Force Gripen crashed near Szolnok; the pilot ejected and was hospitalized, with no other injuries reported. An investigation is underway as defence minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi travels to the scene and Prime Minister Péter Magyar posted updates. The force operates 14 Gripen jets based at Kecskemét and has previously helped protect Baltic airspace.
Sweden scrambled two JAS 39 Gripen fighters to intercept Russian Su-24 and Su-34 aircraft operating near Swedish airspace over the Baltic Sea in two separate events on June 13, with no airspace violations reported. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson called the encounters part of a pattern of Russian military activity in the region, underscoring the need for constant readiness with allies, in line with other Baltic-bordering states’ recent intercepts.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia launched a brutal weekly campaign against civilian infrastructure, deploying more than 2,300 strike drones, about 1,560 guided bombs, and 108 missiles, while Ukraine received a new German IRIS-T air defense launcher and Sweden committed Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighters to bolster Kyiv's air defense capabilities.
Ukraine could gain a defensive edge against Russian glide bombs by receiving 16 older Gripen C/D jets from Sweden, potentially armed with MBDA’s Meteor missiles to extend Kyiv’s engagement reach and threaten Russian aircraft beyond shorter-range systems. It’s still unclear if all donated jets will come with Meteor, but training is underway and analysts say the combination could be a valuable boost to Ukraine’s air defense against glide-bomb attacks.
Ukraine is set to receive Swedish Gripen fighters (C/D now, with E/F later) as part of a plan to bolster its air power, potentially leveraging up to 150 E/Fs financed by an EU loan. A Ukrainian pilot highlights five Gripen advantages—rugged operation from less-than-ideal runways, very short ground turnaround, ability to carry a wide mix of Western weapons, lower operating costs than MiG-29, and potential use of Meteor missiles—which could sharpen the frontline battle as Russia faces logistical strains and sustained fighting. The development occurs alongside continuing Russian supply-route disruption in the south, battles around Kostyantynivka, and analyses showing many missiles’ debris contains mostly Russian/Belarusian components; casualty/equipment loss tallies from Oryx remain unverifiable but show heavy losses on both sides.
Ukraine will purchase 20 new Gripen fighters and Sweden will donate 16 older C/D jets next year as part of a broader plan to acquire up to 150 Gripen E aircraft; deliveries of the newer model are expected from 2030, with Kyiv earmarking €2.5 billion of an EU loan for the planes.
Ukraine will receive up to 16 Swedish Gripen C/D fighters by early 2027, with plans to buy up to 20 Gripen E/F later funded by an EU loan; pilot and technician training has begun and negotiations for the E/F are ongoing, while Meteor missiles are expected to arm the jets and bolster Ukraine’s air power, aided by Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft; Sweden will replace the donated C/Ds in its own fleet as the deal progresses.
Sweden will transfer 16 Gripen C/D fighters to Ukraine free of charge and plans to sell 22 additional Gripen E aircraft, with deliveries beginning in 2027 and completing by 2030, funded in part by an EU loan and backed by a new defense cooperation declaration signed by Zelensky and Kristersson. The jets are equipped with long-range missiles to bolster Ukraine’s air defense against Russia.
Sweden will transfer 16 used Saab JAS 39 Gripen C/D fighters to Ukraine and back Kyiv’s plan to acquire up to 20 Gripen E aircraft, financed by 2.5 billion euros from the EU Ukraine Support Loan mechanism. Deliveries of the C/D jets could start in early 2027 after export approvals, while talks to procure Gripen E/F are ongoing with potential deliveries around 2030. This forms Sweden's largest military aid package to Kyiv and will add Western fighters to Ukraine's fleet, though its impact depends on numbers and timely delivery; Ukrainian pilots have already begun training.
Canada’s plan to replace its CF-18s with an F-35 fleet is showing signs of collapse as Ottawa weighs Saab’s Gripen E/F offer, which includes thousands of local jobs and a domestic production hub, in a potential mixed‑fleet approach. The decision faces scrutiny over technology transfer, timelines, and NORAD implications, with a 2024 auditor review and ongoing U.S. readiness/diplomatic concerns adding to the uncertainty.
Saab proposes a Gripen production hub in Canada large enough to supply the Canadian Air Force and export customers, with initial aircraft built in Sweden and later in Canada to reach about 36 planes per year. Ottawa is reviewing a mixed F-35/Gripen fleet after committing to 88 jets (16 ordered). Saab has touted up to 10,000 Canadian jobs and pledged local sustainment with Canadian partners, and signaled potential orders from Ukraine if the facility is established; the plan aligns with the company’s push for a "Made-in-Canada Fighter".
Ukraine appears poised to gain MBDA's Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles, but the transfer hinges on Kyiv obtaining Saab Gripen fighters (or Rafale). Defense officials say Meteors would be a natural part of a Gripen package; however, delivery timelines depend on Gripen availability, with three years for new Gripen Es and possibly quicker options via secondhand Gripen C/D. The Meteor's ramjet propulsion and data-link offer extended range and better end-game performance, potentially offsetting Russia's long-range R-37M, but the weapons could pose intelligence risks if they end up on Russian soil. No final sale has been concluded despite letters of intent; the plan signals a broader rearmament of Ukraine's air force if fighter deliveries proceed.
The NDP is pressing Prime Minister Carney to cancel Canada’s 16-jet order of U.S.-made F-35 fighters and switch to Saab Gripen, arguing the U.S. aircraft would deepen military integration with a superpower. Defence officials say procurement will serve Canadian needs and no final decision has been made as a review continues, all amid Trump-era threats to disrupt Western aircraft supplies and tariffs.
Ukraine and Sweden discussed potentially delivering MBDA’s Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles alongside Saab Gripen jets to Kyiv, a move that would boost Ukraine’s ability to strike Russian aircraft from long range. The Meteor is Europe’s leading AAM, capable of over 75 miles at Mach 4 and compatible with Gripen, Rafale, and Eurofighter Typhoon. A deal to export up to 150 Gripen jets to Ukraine has been floated but is not finalized, and the Meteor transfer could be part of broader future aid including air defense, radars, electronic warfare systems, and drones.
Ukraine has decided to acquire 120-150 Saab Gripen fighters to modernize its air force, citing the aircraft's suitability for dispersed operations, advanced electronic warfare capabilities, and lower costs. The transition will take several years and involve significant training and infrastructure adjustments, but it promises a substantial boost to Ukraine's air power amid ongoing conflict.