Air War in Ukraine - Gripen – Reinforcements from Sweden
The most significant event during the period covered in this part of the series (May 1 – May 31, 2026) was the announcement of a specific agreement on the delivery of Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets to the Ukrainian Air Force. However, much more happened—not only in Ukraine but also, for example, in Romania, where a Russian drone crashed into an apartment building.
Miro Barič
Gripen – Reinforcements from Sweden
The most significant event during the period covered in this part of the series
(May 1 – May 31, 2026) was the announcement of a specific agreement on the
delivery of Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets to the Ukrainian Air Force.
However, much more happened—not only in Ukraine but also, for example,
in Romania, where a Russian drone crashed into an apartment building.
Air War in Ukraine
After receiving F-16s and Mirage 2000-5F
fighters, Ukraine will receive a third Western
fighter jet—the Swedish Gripen. In October
2025, the two countries signed a tentative
agreement for the future delivery of 100 to
150 JAS 39 aircraft. On Thursday, May 28,
2026, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson
announced the agreement details while visiting
Uppsala Air Base.
According to the agreement, Ukraine will
purchase 20 new JAS 39E/F aircraft using
€2.5 billion of a European Union loan.
In addition, Sweden will donate 16 older
JAS 39C/D airplanes to Ukraine.
Training of the Ukrainian pilots on Gripen is
already underway and will intensify further
by the end of this year. It was confirmed that
among the pilots converting to the Swedish
airplane is the well-known Ukrainian pilot
Vadym Voroshylov, call sign „Karaya,“ who has
until now flown MiG-29 fighters in combat.
The JAS 39C/D aircraft are expected to
arrive in Ukraine at the beginning of 2027. The
new JAS 39E/F aircraft should begin arriving
in 2030. Kyiv is also negotiating with Sweden to
localize production of these aircraft in Ukraine
starting in 2033.
A very important part of the Gripen deliveries
will be their armament. The Meteor air-to-
air missile is capable of hitting maneuvering
targets at extremely long ranges. Its exact
range is classified, but it is estimated to be
as much as 200 km (124 miles). This would
enable Ukrainian fighters to effectively engage
Russian Su-34 bombers, which currently
launch glide bombs from distances of around
100 km (62 miles). Saab 340 Airborne Early
Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, which
Ukraine has already received, could help
detect targets for the Gripens.
Another fighter type that may eventually
enter Ukrainian service is the French Rafale.
Around the same time that Ukraine signed its
tentative agreement with Sweden for Gripen
deliveries, it also signed a similar agreement
with France. However, in this case no specific
contract for Rafale deliveries has yet been
concluded.
Russian Attacks
On Wednesday, May 13, and Thursday,
May 14, Russia carried out one of its largest
attacks to date. Over the course of the assault,
it launched 1,567 drones and another 56
missiles and cruise missiles against Ukraine.
One of the targets was Uzhhorod in the far
west of the country, directly on the Slovak
border. Uzhhorod Airport is so close to Slovakia
that the runway end lights are actually located
on Slovak territory. The heaviest strike
targeted Kyiv, where at least 24 people were
killed, including three children. Among them
were two girls whose father, Yevhen Yakovlev,
had been killed in combat in 2023.
Across Ukraine, a total of 27 people were
killed and another 80 were injured.
Another major attack on Kyiv took
place during the night of Sunday, May 24.
Russia launched 690 projectiles during the
assault. Ukrainian air defenses shot down
549 drones and 55 missiles. The projectiles
that penetrated the defenses killed four people
and injured more than 100.
The list of targets struck included the
Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs building,
the Chornobyl Museum, a water treatment
facility, a theater, a school, a tax office,
a marketplace, and apartment buildings.
Russia also used an Oreshnik missile. The
missile is increasingly proving to be a major
disappointment in terms of guidance accuracy.
In this case, it struck garages in the city of Bila
Tserkva. Russia reportedly launched a second
Oreshnik missile as well, but it failed to hit
Ukrainian-controlled territory altogether and
instead landed in the Russian-occupied part of
Donetsk Oblast.
Russia also missed its intended target on
Friday, May 29, when, during an attack on the
Ukrainian Danube port city of Reni, a Russian
drone struck the roof of an apartment building
in the Romanian city of Galați, located about
20 km (12 miles) from Reni.
The explosion caused a fire in an apartment
on the 10th floor and injured two people.
The Romanian Air Force scrambled two F-16
fighters, but they were unable to intercept the
drone in time. Based on recovered wreckage,
Romanian authorities identified it as a Russian
Geran (Shahed) drone. Russia, however, denied
responsibility.
Sweden and Ukraine signed an agreement on JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets deliveries.
AIR WAR IN UKRAINE
INFO Eduard44
July 2026