The Gripen fighter jet is the backbone of Swedish air power (Saab)
FARNBOROUGH — Sweden is lining up a new order of Gripen E fighter jets to replace a fleet of older C/D models being gifted to Ukraine, according to the head of the Swedish air force.
A new “investment” in 12 of the Saab-produced multirole combat aircraft will be added to the country’s “procurement cycle” at a later date, to compensate for the Kyiv-bound planes, according to Maj. Gen. Jonas Wikman, Chief of the Swedish air force.
Sweden’s future Gripen E buy will take the Nordic nation’s fleet to 72 aircraft, bolstering an original order of 60 units placed in 2013.
Ukraine is slated to receive its first Gripen C/D aircraft next year, in addition to its $2.5 billion acquisition of 16 Gripen E fighter jets, signed with Saab earlier this month. More broadly, Ukraine holds an ambition of acquiring up to 150 of the Swedish jets long term.
