Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (R) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy walk past a Gripen fighter jet after they delivered a joint press conference in Linkoping, Sweden, on October 22, 2025. (Photo by JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images)
MILAN — Saab is rapidly exploring ways to expand its Gripen production rates, with a major deal for up to 150 aircraft with Ukraine potentially being finalized this year, according to company head Micael Johansson — though Sweden’s top defense official said challenges remain.
In an interview with Swedish public broadcaster SVT last week, Johansson stated that while an agreement to deliver a significant number of Gripen fighter jets to Kyiv typically takes a few months, he hopes it will be completed this year.
In October, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the Saab hub in Linköping, Sweden. During his trip, he signed a long-term letter of intent with the Swedish government to deepen air defense cooperation, which could include the export of 100 to 150 Gripen E jets.
This week, another top Ukrainian official, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, travelled to Sweden and said today that Kyiv was “ready,” after having developed its “own plan on how to finance this project.” He did not disclose details.
