Zelenskyy expects first Swedish Gripens in January

Zelenskyy expects first Swedish Gripens in January–February and urges Stockholm

Ukraine’s president said in Copenhagen that the first JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets from Sweden are expected to arrive in January or February 2027, “probably in February.” Kyiv is asking for the transfer to be expedited and expects to use the aircraft against Shahed drones.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the first Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets are likely to arrive in Ukraine in January–February 2027. He told journalists on Tuesday, November 10, in Copenhagen after a meeting with the leaders of the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8).

“We are grateful to Sweden. We raised the issue of the Gripen. They should arrive in January or February, probably in February. We stressed that we need them as soon as possible. But we are moving in that direction,” Interfax-Ukraine quoted Zelenskyy as saying. He did not specify how many aircraft would be included in the first batch.

A Swedish Air Force JAS 39 Gripen C fighter jet coming in to land

Focus on combating Shahed drones

“We will see how the Gripen operate against Shahed drones; we are counting on this as well — this concerns air defense,” the Ukrainian leader added. He also asked partners for additional F-16s and ammunition, noting that many of the aircraft already delivered are older models and require regular maintenance, although they successfully shoot down jet-powered drones.

The timeline cited by Zelenskyy has not yet been confirmed by a new official schedule from Stockholm. In May, the Swedish government only said that the first used Gripen C/D aircraft “could defend Ukraine’s airspace as early as next year,” meaning 2027. More precise delivery dates have not been officially announced, Interfax-Ukraine noted.

16 aircraft and Meteor missiles

Sweden has pledged to transfer up to 16 Gripen C/D aircraft from its air force fleet to Ukraine free of charge, along with weapons that may include IRIS-T, AMRAAM and Meteor missiles. According to Ukraine’s Defense Ministry, the first batch will arrive with MBDA Meteor long-range air-to-air missiles, and Gripen aircraft equipped with these missiles are viewed as one of the most effective means of countering Russian guided aerial bombs (KAB). Ukrainian pilots and technicians are already undergoing training.

Journalists in Copenhagen as Zelenskyy and Frederiksen approach the press

In addition, Kyiv and Stockholm signed a contract on June 30 for 16 new Gripen E fighter jets, with deliveries expected to begin in early 2029. The deal is financed through a European loan backed by the United Kingdom. The Swedish Gripens will bolster Ukraine’s air force, which already operates American F-16s and French Mirage 2000s.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

Zelenskyy expects first Swedish Gripens in January–February and urges Stockholm