Sweden and Ukraine have signed a letter of intent regarding the future export of the JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft to Ukraine. This was announced by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a joint press conference in Linköping (southern Sweden) on Wednesday.


The meeting between the leaders was announced earlier in the day, where it was also revealed that a new development in the area of defence exports would be presented at a joint press conference. The letter of intent marks a first step towards a potential future deal.


– President Zelenskyy and I have signed an LOI between Sweden and Ukraine. This is the beginning of a long journey, but it takes us one step closer to a major export deal for Saab and Sweden with Ukraine. This means great opportunities for Ukraine's Air Force and for Sweden and the Swedish defence industry – but also for a long-term industrial collaboration between Sweden and Ukraine, said Ulf Kristersson.


– According to this letter of intent, we are talking about a possible sale of approximately 100–150 Gripen aircraft of the E model. This is not a donation but an export project, he continued.


Zelenskyy described the initiative as an important step in building up Ukraine's air combat capabilities. During the press conference, he emphasised that Sweden has already helped Ukraine significantly, and that the country hopes to purchase at least 100 aircraft.


In response to a question from the press about why Ukraine chose the Gripen, he replied:


– We are familiar with your fighter aircraft. We know a lot about them, we can compare different platforms. We use different types of fighter aircraft today – they are not a new generation, but they are what we use, said President Zelenskyy.


– If we look strategically, the best are the Gripen and the French Rafale. I do not want to disclose the entire process and exactly what we need, but for us, this is a priority. It is about money, about how to fly it and how to use it. But it is also about our countries – we understand who we are fighting against, he added.