The UK is to allocate €300 million to Ukraine for the purchase of 16 Gripen E fighter jets
This was announced by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a visit to Kyiv, according to Reuters.
According to Starmer, London will work with Sweden to supply aircraft to Ukraine to defend against Russian attacks. The investment will secure around 5,000 jobs across more than 50 British companies involved in the Gripen programme.
In June, the Swedish defence contractor Saab signed a contract under which Ukraine will receive 16 Gripen E fighter jets worth around €2.18 billion. The aircraft will be accompanied by a package of equipment and technical support.
Unlike the F-16, the Gripen JAS 39 is less demanding in terms of runways and is simpler to maintain between flights. Furthermore, the cost per flight hour for the JAS 39 is the lowest among fighter jets. For the JAS 39C/D model, this figure stands at $7,000–8,000, whilst for the JAS 39E/F, preliminary estimates put it at just $4,000.
It is worth recalling that in October 2025, the Financial Times reported that, as part of an agreement to purchase 150 Gripen fighter aircraft, the Swedish company Saab was also prepared to open a final assembly plant for Gripen aircraft in Ukraine.
At the end of May 2026, it emerged that Sweden would be transferring 16 JAS 39 Gripen C/D fighter jets to Ukraine and would sell 22 aircraft of the newer version of these planes — the JAS 39 Gripen E.
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