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Sweden preparing to open a plant in Ukraine to produce Gripen fighter jet

27 October 2025 11:59 (UTC +04:00)

"Swedish defense company Saab plans to open a plant in Ukraine to produce Gripen fighter aircraft," said Mikael Johansson, the company’s CEO, in an interview with the Financial Times, APA reports.

He said the project is being considered within the framework of a potential contract that envisions the supply of up to 150 aircraft. The company is also exploring the possibility of organizing assembly, testing, and partial production in Ukraine, as well as expanding production capacities in Brazil, Canada, and Europe.

Note that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson have signed a memorandum of intent for the purchase of 100–150 Gripen E aircraft. The first deliveries are expected to begin within three years, with the contract to be completed over 10–15 years.

Discussions are ongoing about financing the deal using frozen Russian assets, although some European countries, including Belgium, have expressed objections.