After receiving F-16 fighter jets, Ukraine is in negotiations with its allies to acquire Swedish Gripen fighters and European Eurofighter jets, according to Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. Sweden had previously confirmed discussions regarding its Gripen fighters, but this is the first time Eurofighter jets have been mentioned.
“We already have commitments from our partners regarding the F-16s, and they are also committed to providing Mirage fighters,” said Rustem Umerov. “Consultations are underway for Gripen and Eurofighter jets as well. It’s a very strong list of platforms.”
French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to transfer several Mirage 2000-5 jets to Ukraine in early June this year, along with training for Ukrainian pilots and military personnel in France. Recently, it was also reported that France will add certain modifications to the jets intended for Ukraine. The first group of Ukrainian pilots has already completed their training on the Alpha Jet in France, following an initial preparation phase in the United Kingdom.
Ukraine received its first F-16 fighter jets from allies this summer, though one was lost in a crash on August 26, 2024. However, many more aircraft are needed to establish air superiority. Rustem Umerov mentioned that ongoing talks with allies are focused on determining “how many aviation brigades and aircraft are necessary.” He did not provide specific details about the Eurofighter, only noting that these discussions are likely in the very early stages and may not yield results in the short term, potentially lasting up to a year.
The Gripen is a powerful fighter jet designed to operate from short runways, non-specialized airfields, and even highways. They are easier to disperse and harder to detect, offering high maneuverability and advanced avionics, making them an ideal fit for Ukraine. (You can read more about the capabilities of these aircraft here.)
In May of this year, Sweden also announced plans to transfer the Saab ASC 890 airborne early warning and control aircraft to Ukraine (more details about it can be found at this link). While in service with Sweden, this aircraft operated outside Ukraine’s borders alongside other NATO surveillance assets. However, the exact date of its transfer remains unknown.
However, there are two important aspects to consider: time and logistics. Similar to the case with F-16s, the transfer of other fighter jets will take time. It’s not just about the physical handover of the aircraft but also about training the crews, maintenance specialists, and handling the logistics involved.
Hypothetically, if Ukraine were to receive all these aircraft, its fleet would become remarkably diverse. This would require setting up supply chains and providing appropriate maintenance for each type of jet. While this is not an impossible task (for example, Greece and Egypt both operate four different types of fighters and manage them well), it remains a highly complex challenge, especially for a country at war.
“Last year, we focused on pilot training, acquiring platforms, and building infrastructure. This year, we are working to achieve air superiority,” stated Rustem Umerov, adding that Russia is currently using “up to 300 aircraft and the same number of helicopters” in the war against Ukraine.
Sweden has already taken steps to transfer Gripen fighters, including the relevant spare parts in its aid package to Ukraine amounting to $443 million. The country has also begun purchasing components for the aircraft worth $221 million, but a final decision on the transfer has yet to be made.
“Thanks to the acquisition of new spare parts, some of the JAS 39C/D aircraft will be saved from decommissioning and may – if the Swedish government decides – be considered for potential future transfer to Ukraine,” stated representatives of the Swedish Ministry of Defense.
These details indicate that Sweden could potentially transfer older models of the Gripen C and D to Ukraine. However, these are merely preparatory steps, as discussions regarding the immediate or near-term transfer of Gripen fighters were “on pause” at that time, with the priority being the transfer of F-16 fighters. Swedish Defense Minister Paul Jonsson stated that the country has not yet made a final decision on transferring Gripen fighters to Ukraine, explaining that Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway are already preparing to transfer F-16s to Ukraine. Therefore, the JAS-39 Gripen will have to wait so as not to interfere with the operations of the air coalition.
Source: theaviationist
