Ukraine has made the Gripen its new workhorse to bolster its air defence.
JAKARTA – Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets are preparing to face the biggest test in their operational history after Ukraine decided to make them the backbone of its air force in the war against Russia.
As reported by Reuters, the Ukrainian government has allocated €2.5 billion from a European Union loan facility to purchase 20 new Gripen E aircraft. In addition, Sweden will donate 16 earlier-generation Gripen jets to strengthen Ukraine’s air defences.
“We need these jets and for us this is truly a new chapter for Ukraine,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said while signing the agreement with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson at Uppsala Air Base last week.
The agreement could eventually expand to include up to 150 aircraft. If everything proceeds according to plan, Gripen jets could begin operations against Russia within around a year.
For Sweden and aircraft manufacturer Saab, the war in Ukraine will represent the most significant combat test yet for the Gripen. Since its first flight in 1988, the aircraft has been used by several countries, including Brazil and South Africa, but has never been involved in a high-intensity air conflict against a major military power.
“This will be something completely different. It will be a test against the very system this aircraft was designed to confront: Russia,” said Johan Huovinen, a Lieutenant Colonel and lecturer at the Swedish Defence University. “Ultimately, this will be a test of Swedish technology.”
The Gripen was designed to operate in wartime conditions under the threat of Russian attacks. Unlike modern fighter aircraft that depend on large air bases, the Gripen can take off from and land on motorways or emergency runways, making it more difficult to target.
“Ukraine is not operating from intact standard NATO air bases. We use dispersed airfields, dirt runways, sections of motorways and concealed positions across the country. The Gripen was designed precisely for this,” said Oleksii Antoniuk of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence.
“A six-person crew, consisting of one trained technician and five conscripts, can refuel, rearm and prepare it for its next mission in less than 10 minutes. No other aircraft in this class offers that combination.”
According to Antoniuk, the Gripen’s operating cost is only around US$8,000 per flight hour, less than a quarter of the operating cost of the stealthy F-35 fighter jet. This advantage is considered important in a prolonged war that demands logistical and financial efficiency.
Ukraine also believes that the Meteor air-to-air missile carried by the Gripen could restrict Russian fighter aircraft activity near the front line and reduce the effectiveness of glide bomb attacks, one of Moscow’s key weapons.
Nevertheless, some analysts believe the Gripen still has limitations. The aircraft lacks stealth technology comparable to the F-35 and carries a lighter weapons payload.
Justin Bronk, Senior Research Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), said the Gripen is a suitable choice for Ukraine but will not dramatically alter the balance of the war.
“It will not provide a transformational impact in terms of the Ukrainian Air Force’s ability to establish total air superiority or anything similar, because Russia’s ground-based air defence network remains highly formidable,” he said.
Another challenge comes from production capacity. Before the Ukrainian contract emerged, Saab had already secured orders for 117 Gripen E aircraft. The company currently produces around 15 aircraft per year in Sweden and is working to increase capacity to between 20 and 30 aircraft annually.
Saab Chief Executive Micael Johansson said the company has prepared investments to increase production and open the door to broader cooperation with Ukraine, including maintenance, repairs and the possibility of local production in the future.
“We started investing some time ago,” Johansson said. “Over time, with a major partner such as Ukraine, that could certainly happen.”
The Gripen’s success in Ukraine could also create new export opportunities for Saab. Several countries, including Canada, are currently considering purchasing the aircraft.
Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson believes the contract with Ukraine will become an important showcase for the country’s defence industry.
“This agreement is a benchmark that will encourage more countries not only to purchase the Gripen, but also to view Sweden as a competitive supplier of advanced systems,” Jonson said. (DH/LM)
Related: Canada considers cancelling F-35 order and switching to Sweden’s Gripen
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