Overview
- President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine is counting on 150 Gripen fighters from Sweden with the first aircraft expected to arrive next year.
- Zelensky framed the fighter plan as part of Ukraine’s broader security guarantees following a letter of intent signed on October 22 with Sweden.
- French aviation expert Xavier Tytelman argued the Gripen could shift the air-power balance by bringing advanced electronic-warfare protection to Ukraine’s fleet.
- The expert said the aircraft can integrate Storm Shadow, Scalp and Germany’s Taurus cruise missiles, with work to begin on adding laser‑guided weapons.
- He cautioned that the arrangement is not a final purchase and still needs approvals from component suppliers, notably the United States for engines, and potential decisions on missiles such as Meteor.