Strana 57
More Mirages, F-16s,
and Even Gripens
During the monitored period, several
positive developments occurred regarding
the future of the Ukrainian Air Force. France
confirmed it would deliver additional Mirage
2000 fighters. Belgium received its first F-35
aircraft, meeting the condition for releasing
older F-16s for Ukraine. Thus, in addition to jets
from Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway,
Ukraine will soon receive more F-16s from
Belgium.
The most significant development, however,
appears to be the agreement concluded in
Linköping on Wednesday, 22 October, between
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. It is
a preliminary document expressing intent to
procure JAS 39 Gripen fighters. Both sides
have since been working intensively on the
details of a final agreement.
Ukraine is expected to acquire 100 to 150
Gripens, most of which would be delivered
after the expected end of the war as part of the
rebuilding and modernization of the postwar
Ukrainian Air Force. However, some Gripens
are expected to be delivered as early as 2026,
and Ukrainian pilots and ground crews are
already training for them. These will almost
certainly be older JAS 39C/D versions.
Ukrainian Su-27 fighters continue to serve alongside Western aircraft … …and so do MiG-29s, such as this one from the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade.
This former Slovak MiG-29AS also continues to fight (notice the antenna behind
the cockpit), although its surface shows heavy weathering.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson sign
a letter of intent to procure JAS 39 Gripen fighters.
While fighter jets primarily shoot down Russian cruise missiles,
ground-based air defenses focus on Shahed drones.
UKRAINE
INFO Eduard
57
December 2025