Gripen, Eurofighter Jets to Join F-16, Mirage in Ukraine's Air Arsenal?

Ukraine is actively negotiating with its allies to secure Swedish Gripen and European Eurofighter fighter jets, according to Defense Minister Rustem Umierov.

He revealed this during a national telethon, adding that consultations on these aircraft are underway alongside previously secured commitments for F-16 and Mirage fighter jets.

"We already have commitments from our partners on the F-16 fighter jets and commitments on the Mirage jet fighters. Consultations are underway on Gripen fighters, consultations are underway on Eurofighter fighters. This is a very good list of platforms, and we are discussing when they will start," Umierov stated.

Earlier this summer, Ukraine received its first F-16 jets from allied nations, but a larger fleet is required for Ukraine to establish air superiority. The Defense Minister noted that discussions with partners are centered around the number of aviation brigades and aircraft needed to strengthen the Ukrainian Air Force.

Umierov emphasized that last year’s efforts focused on training pilots, obtaining platforms, and building the necessary infrastructure. In contrast, this year’s priority is achieving dominance in the skies, a critical task given the significant air assets currently deployed by Russia in the conflict. Russia is using up to 300 airplanes and a similar number of helicopters in its war against Ukraine, presenting a major challenge to Ukrainian forces.

Negotiations for additional aircraft are ongoing, with Sweden yet to make a decision on transferring JAS-39 Gripen fighters. Swedish Defense Minister Paul Jonson indicated that the country is holding off on such transfers due to the ongoing delivery of F-16s from Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway, suggesting that the Gripens should wait to avoid conflicting with the efforts of the Aviation Coalition.

Meanwhile, Eurofighter Typhoon jets, a fourth-generation multi-role aircraft used by several European nations, remain a possible option for transfer to Ukraine as part of the ongoing negotiations.