Sweden to Base Gripen Fighters in Poland; First Time on Foreign Soil

Sweden will station Jas 39 Gripen fighter aircraft in Poland for the first time to participate in NATO's enhanced air policing mission, focusing on defending the alliance's northern airspace.

A fighter division from the Norrbotten Air Flotilla will be on standby in Poland from April to June, operating under NATO leadership. Up to eight Jas 39 Gripen fighters will patrol allied airspace and support NATO's collective defense.

Jörgen Axelsson, the Air Force's Chief of Operations, stated that Sweden has extensive experience maintaining territorial integrity but will now extend these operations to Poland as part of NATO’s enhanced airspace surveillance.

The Swedish force will also help protect a logistics hub in southeastern Poland that supports military and civilian aid to Ukraine. Approximately 110 personnel from the Norrbotten Air Flotilla and other Swedish Armed Forces units will support the mission.

The Jas 39 Gripen fighters will operate under NATO's Combined Air Operations Centre in Uedem, Germany, contributing to the alliance’s deterrence and defense against potential threats.

NATO’s enhanced air policing began after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, strengthening airspace security along the alliance’s borders. This mission aims to identify and respond to unauthorized aircraft near NATO territory.