Ukraine may receive Swedish JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets after the delivery of F-16s is completed.

Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström shared this in an interview with the VOA Ukrainian Service.

Ukraine has now concluded that two models of the fighter jets – both F-16s and Gripens – are too many.

Discussing the decision to pause the delivery of the JAS-39 Gripen to Ukraine, the Swedish official emphasized that it was Ukraine’s decision:

“But this does not mean that Sweden is not open to continuing with Gripens if and when the F-16 program is completed. Again, this is a matter for Ukraine, not the Swedish government.”

He reminded that Sweden still finds ways to improve the capabilities of Ukraine’s armed resistance:

“Since we could not continue with the Gripens because of the F-16s coming in, we decided to provide Ukraine with other capabilities that Sweden has, and we gave Ukraine ASC 890 surveillance systems.”

Answering a clarifying question about the possibility of supplying JAS-39 Gripen fighters in the future, he replied:

“It’s just a practical question. You know, the systems of the fighter jets are very complex, and more NATO partners have F-16s than Gripen fighters.

I would say that the F-16, which is now being introduced into the Ukrainian Air Force, will provide you with great and important capabilities. When that is realized, then we can start talking about Gripen air fighter jets. Both Sweden and the Swedish government have no restrictions on these discussions after the introduction of the F-16. But this decision was made by the Ukrainian government, not the Swedish government.”

In 2023, Ukrainian pilots completed introductory training on Gripen fighter jets. The training of Ukrainian military pilots comprised simulator training and practical flights on JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets.

The possibility of transferring Swedish fighter jets was discussed after Sweden joined NATO and signed a collective security treaty.