The Ukrainian leader said the deal opens the way for Ukraine to obtain a serious fleet of combat aircraft. He called Gripen “powerful aviation platforms that can carry out a wide range of tasks.” Zelenskyy also noted that Gripen are easy to maintain and can operate from short runways. Kristersson called it the best fighter in the world.
The first Gripen appeared in the late 1980s, and the E-series model entered service with the Swedish Air Force only earlier this month. Defense Express noted that Sweden itself now plans an order for only 60 new Gripen E for its own air force.
TWZ reported that the Gripen E is a significant step forward compared with previous models that manufacturer Saab even considered giving it a different name.
The JAS 39 Gripen E is a multirole combat aircraft designed for reconnaissance, air-to-air, and air-to-ground missions. In May 2025 it became the first fighter to be piloted by artificial intelligence.
Key characteristics:
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Manufacturer: Saab, Sweden
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Entered service: 2025
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Empty mass: 8 t
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Maximum takeoff weight: 16.5 t
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Length: 15.2 m
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Wingspan: 8.6 m
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Height: 4.5 m
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Time to scramble: up to 20 minutes
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Top speed: Mach 2
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Service ceiling: 16 km
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Range: 4,000 km
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Crew: 1
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Cost: $138.3 million
It has Link 16 datalink and an optimized human-machine interface (HMI).
The aircraft is equipped with a head-up projection display and a helmet-mounted display.
It integrates with a wide range of weapons, guidance modules and recon pods, allowing combined defensive-offensive operations in a single mission.
It can carry seven Meteor long-range missiles and two IRIS-T missiles.
An advanced electronic warfare suite can jam enemy radars or create false targets. It can be used offensively for electronic attacks on targets.
Artificial intelligence reduces pilot workload and assists tactical decision-making.
The Gripen can take off from — and land on — ordinary roads measuring 16 × 800 m.
The Gripen F is a two-seat variant with a longer fuselage (15.9 m).