Ukraine Targets Early 2027 for First Swedish Gripen Jets to Counter Russian Drones
President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine expects its first Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighters in January or February 2027 and plans to use them initially against Russian Geran‑type attack drones.
Ukraine is planning to bring Swedish‑built fighter jets into its air defenses in 2027. President Volodymyr Zelensky told journalists in Denmark that the country expects to receive its first Saab JAS 39 Gripen aircraft in January or February that year, and that their first role will be shooting down Russian jet‑powered Shahed‑type drones, called Geran in Russian service.
Reporting on 11 November repeated Zelensky’s timeline and focus. He said the initial batch of Gripens would be tested in combat against Russian Geran‑4 jet drones, which have been used repeatedly in strikes on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. Ukrainian accounts cast the Gripens’ early mission as air defense rather than deep‑strike.
The announcement came alongside descriptions of fresh Russian drone attacks. Overnight reporting described Russian Geran‑4 and Geran‑5 strikes on a parking lot with trucks in Kovel in Volyn Oblast, on an enterprise in Chernihiv, and on fuel and energy sites in Zhytomyr region. These attacks show the drones the Gripens are meant to counter are already in heavy use against logistics and energy targets.
The Gripen is designed for dispersed basing and relatively simple maintenance, features that match Ukraine’s need to operate aircraft from airfields under threat. Its radar and weapons could help improve interception rates against slow‑flying drones and cruise missiles, alongside ground‑based air defenses that are often heavily tasked during large raids.
The 2027 delivery horizon reflects planning for a prolonged confrontation with Russia. It assumes Ukraine’s air force will be able to integrate Western fighters and that the conflict, or at least the threat level, will still demand advanced combat jets.
What matters next are the practical steps to make that timeline real. Indicators include details of pilot and ground‑crew training, agreements on maintenance and basing, and how many Gripens Sweden ultimately commits for Ukraine’s use.
Sources
- OSINT