Overview
- Defense Minister Pal Jonson told Reuters that talks on financing a potential purchase of up to 150 Gripen E fighters are advancing, with Sweden ready to cover part of the cost through military aid.
- Options under discussion include export credits, using frozen Russian assets, and Sweden’s Ukraine-aid framework of 40 billion kronor in 2026 and 40 billion in 2027.
- Sweden has presented the proposal to a 16-country “coalition of the willing,” and governments supplying Gripen subcomponents could have added incentives to contribute funding.
- Ukrainian defense chief Denys Shmyhal met Saab leaders in Sweden to discuss technical cooperation and delivery steps, saying Kyiv aims to accelerate transfers so jets could begin defending its airspace next year.
- Alongside the jet talks, Shmyhal and Jonson signed a Letter of Intent on defense innovations, with Kyiv proposing joint work on missile interceptors and radar, as Saab says it can ramp production and expand international cooperation.