Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that his country is simultaneously negotiating with the United States, Sweden and France for the procurement of a fleet of 250 modern fighter jets as part of its efforts to modernise its air force. Zelenski stated that this giant fleet is “their future”, demonstrating Ukraine’s determination to strengthen its air defence capacity.
Evaluating Three Major Platforms
Ukraine is in the process of evaluating three different combat aircraft platforms as part of a comprehensive modernisation plan:
- F-16 from the USA
- Gripen from Sweden
- Rafale from France
While sources close to French Dassault Aviation confirmed that they are “ready” for a possible request from Kiev for Rafale fighter jets, Sweden’s Gripen fighter jet stands out as the strongest candidate with Zelenski’s statements.
Why does Gripen stand out?
The 100 to 150 Gripen fighter jets, which are being evaluated within the scope of the letter of intent signed by Ukraine with Sweden in recent days, draws attention as the strongest option in the procurement process. According to the Financial Times, the Swedish manufacturer Saab is even considering building an assembly plant in Ukraine, signalling a rapidly deepening industrial partnership.
The reasons for the Kiev administration’s preference for the Gripen E/F model lie in its operational flexibility and cost advantages:
- Lower Operating Costs
- Shorter Training Times: According to Zelenski, the training of an experienced pilot takes only six months compared to the F-16.
- Ability to Operate from Primitive Runways: The ability to operate from roads or “primitive” runways, an important strategic advantage in wartime.
- Weapon Flexibility: Zelenski emphasised the versatility of the aircraft, stating that the Gripen “can probably carry almost any weapon in our inventory”.
French Elements and Rafale Talks
Despite the Gripen’s advantages in terms of cost and operational flexibility, the Ukrainian Air Force also has French components in its inventory. The active use of French Mirage 2000 fighter jets and the presence of French ammunition such as AASM Hammer in the inventory are among the reasons why the Kiev administration is continuing negotiations with France to equip part of its fleet. In this context, Rafale fighter jets are still on the table as an option.
These simultaneous talks of Zelenski reveal Ukraine’s vision of building not only the current war, but also future air defence security with modern, fast and flexible platforms.
