The BRICS TimesSweden’s Gripen aircraft has been in service since 1996. The latest version, the Gripen E, had its first delivery to the Swedish Air Force in October. Over 280 Gripen aircraft have been manufactured to date.
Ukraine Boosts Air Power with Swedish Deal
Ukraine is taking a major step to modernize its air force during the war with Russia. Ukraine secured a deal with Sweden to replace its older combat aircraft. It plans to purchase up to 150 Saab Gripen fighter jets under this agreement. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced this. They made the joint announcement at a press conference on October 22 in Linköping, Sweden.
The Swedish government estimates that 100 to 150 jets could be supplied to Ukraine. Kristersson mentioned this deal is a step toward a larger potential Gripen export agreement. Zelensky stressed that acquiring the Gripen is a top priority for Ukraine’s defense strategy. He highlighted the need to replace aging Soviet planes. He also emphasized incorporating modern Western platforms into their fleet.
Combat Use and Global Competition
Swedish media reported that the Gripen was first used directly in combat this year. Thailand deployed the jets during a conflict with Cambodia. Earlier, the Gripen mainly served for air policing missions. It was also deployed in Poland in 2025. This was part of a NATO mission patrolling allied airspace.
Sweden’s Gripen competes directly with Lockheed Martin’s aircraft. Lockheed Martin’s F-35 and F-16, plus Dassault Aviation’s Rafale and Eurofighter, have global exports. They were exported to South Africa, Thailand, Brazil, Czech Republic, and Hungary. However, Colombia has also decided to purchase the Gripen. These reliable aircraft have been in service since 1996. The first latest-version Gripen E jet was delivered to Sweden’s Air Force in October. In total, over 280 Gripen jets have been manufactured until now.
Gripen Fighter Jet Capabilities
The Saab Gripen E is an advanced multirole fighter jet. Saab, a Swedish aerospace company, developed this aircraft. It is recognized as a fourth-generation, light, single-engine supersonic jet. The jet can handle air combat, bombing, and reconnaissance missions effectively. The Gripen E is often called a ‘Smart Fighter’. It offers a powerful combination required for modern warfare. This includes agility, low cost, high availability, and advanced sensor fusion technology.
Gripen E Performance and Armaments
The Gripen E boasts a maximum speed of Mach 2 (about 2,400 km/h). It has 10 hardpoints for carrying weapons and external tanks. This allows it to carry diverse air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons. The jet can also take off from rough or temporary runways. It features increased fuel capacity. This gives it a maximum range of approximately 4,000 km.
The jet can deploy various advanced weapons. These include the Meteor Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile. It also carries the IRIS-T short-range infrared guided missile. Laser-guided and other precision-guided bombs are also supported. Anti-ship missiles can also be deployed. Furthermore, it is equipped with a 27mm Mauser BK-27 cannon.
