2 min read - 1 Jun, 2026
UK to produce 30% of Swedish aircraft deal for Ukraine
A new deal brokered by Sweden will see Ukraine gifted 16 Gripen fighter jets, with essential parts of the aircraft to be built in Britain. Ukraine will also purchase 20 new Gripen aircraft through an EU support loan, to ensure longer-term air force capacity.
The agreement will give Ukrainian forces modern, agile and highly capable multirole air combat platforms, helping to significantly strengthen Ukraine’s air power and bolster NATO supply chains.
The Gripen is a collaboration between the UK, Sweden and the US. Companies across the UK will supply critical components, including the radar and landing gear, with over 30% of each aircraft manufactured in the UK. At least 50 British-based companies, from Saab UK in Fareham to Leonardo UK in Edinburgh, are set to be involved in the deal, supporting over 5,000 UK jobs.
A new Swedish fighter jet deal will bolster Ukraine’s air defence, with over 30% of each aircraft manufactured in the UK / Picture: UK MOD © Crown copyright
The UK continues to play a leading role in international support for Ukraine with training for Ukrainian Armed Forces, expertise sharing and billions of pounds per year of military equipment support, including 120,000 drones for the country this year. Combined military support from the UK and Sweden since Russia’s invasion in February 2022 now stands at £11.4bn.
Luke Pollard MP, minister for defence readiness and industry, said: “This deal is both a big boost for Ukraine’s air power and a show of confidence in our world-leading UK defence industry, supporting thousands of good British jobs here at home. This is the UK stepping up as one for Ukraine: our government, our military and our industry.”
The UK and Sweden share a strong defence and security partnership, built on JEF and NATO membership and a shared commitment to security in the Baltic Sea region and the High North. Last summer, a squadron of Swedish Gripens deployed to Poland alongside the Royal Air Force to conduct NATO air policing.
The UK and Sweden have a strong track record of industrial collaboration in defence, demonstrated by Gripen export successes in Colombia and Thailand. Saab is investing £100m in its Fareham site in the UK, while BAE Systems has a long-standing presence in Sweden through BAE Bofors and BAE Hägglunds – helping drive the next generation of defence and maritime technology, combining the best of Swedish and British innovation.
