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Sweden's pledge to supply Ukraine with Gripen fighter jets has raised the possibility that Kyiv could use the aircraft for strikes on Russian territory, according to a Russian military expert. The supply of the jets, announced by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to a Swedish air force base, is part of a wider effort to bolster Ukraine's air force with Western aircraft, including French Rafale jets.
Coverage comparison
TASS, the Russian state news agency, has reported extensively on the Swedish pledge and its implications. In one article, TASS quoted Alexander Stepanov, a military expert at the Institute of Law and National Security at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), as saying Ukraine could use the Gripen jets to strike Russian territory, including infrastructure in the European part of Russia, particularly if the aircraft are equipped with long-range Taurus cruise missiles.
Separately, TASS reported on Sweden's plans to deliver the jets, citing the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, and covering the financial arrangements for the deal.
Another TASS report described France's intentions to supply its own fighter jets to Ukraine, citing French Ambassador to Sweden Thierry Carlier, and placed the Swedish and French deliveries within the context of an expanding Ukrainian air force.
Key claims
Sweden has promised to deliver 16 Gripen JAS 39C/D fighter jets to Ukraine, with delivery expected in early 2027. These aircraft are likely to be retired from service with the Swedish Air Force, and Stockholm is expected to order new aircraft to replace them, as reported by TASS.
In addition, Sweden plans to sell 20 new JAS 39E Gripen jets to Ukraine. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the aim is to quickly conclude a final agreement, with deliveries starting from 2030. The preliminary price for these aircraft is 27 billion Swedish kronor ($2.9 billion), though final terms have not been finalized.
Ukraine will pay for the fighter jets using an EU loan, according to reports from Aftonbladet as cited by TASS. Sweden will also provide training for flight crews and engineering and technical personnel who will service the Gripens.
TASS quoted Stepanov as saying that the Swedish pledge represents an "escalation" and that Ukraine could use the Gripen jets, which can carry long-range Taurus cruise missiles, for strikes against Russian territory. Stepanov also suggested Ukraine could receive about 150 Gripen jets by 2030, though this figure appears to refer to a stated desire by Zelensky to purchase 150 jets, not a confirmed order.
On the French side, Ambassador Carlier wrote on X that Rafale fighters will "soon be added" to the Ukrainian Air Force fleet, joining Mirage 2000-5 and Gripen jets. This follows a framework deal signed in November between Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron that allows Ukraine to purchase up to 100 Rafale jets from France through 2035. The same agreement potentially includes the supply of SAMP-T anti-aircraft missile systems, air defense radars, air-to-air missiles, and aerial bombs. According to industry experts, the aircraft could be the most modern F4 modification, and by the 2030s, Ukraine's air force could operate a fleet comprising F-16s, Mirage 2000-5Fs, Gripens, and Rafales, as reported by the Army Recognition portal.
Perspectives
Russian expert view
Alexander Stepanov, a military expert at RANEPA, argues that the delivery of Gripen jets to Ukraine enables strikes on Russian territory, framing the Swedish decision as an escalation of the conflict.
Swedish and French official position
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and French Ambassador Thierry Carlier present the deliveries as part of ongoing support for Ukraine's defense, with Kristersson emphasizing the rapid conclusion of agreements for the advanced Gripen jets.