Sweden is handing Ukraine one of the most capable air-to-air missiles in existence, pairing MBDA’s Meteor with a fleet of Gripen fighter jets. The package represents one of the largest single military commitments a European nation has made to Ukraine’s defense.
The deal has two parts. Sweden will donate up to 16 older Gripen C/D jets, with deliveries slated for 2027. Separately, Ukraine is purchasing 20 new JAS 39 Gripen E/F aircraft in a procurement valued between $2.5 billion and $2.7 billion, financed through an EU loan mechanism.
What the Meteor missile changes
The Meteor is not your average air-to-air missile. Produced by European defense giant MBDA, it offers beyond-visual-range engagement capabilities exceeding 200 km. Ukrainian pilots could target Russian aircraft from distances that make retaliation extremely difficult.
That range matters enormously in the current conflict. Russian forces have increasingly relied on glide bombs, air-launched munitions that let pilots stay well behind the front line while still delivering devastating strikes. The Meteor’s reach is designed to threaten exactly those standoff tactics, potentially forcing Russian aircraft to operate from even greater distances or risk being shot down.
