Overview
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a €300 million UK commitment to support delivery of Swedish Gripen E fighters to Ukraine during his visit to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
- The package covers pilot and engineer training, simulators, spare parts and other sustainment equipment intended to make a 16‑aircraft Gripen squadron operational by 2029.
- UK officials say the jets can perform air-to-air combat, strike ground targets and run reconnaissance missions and that Gripen platforms are interoperable with NATO forces.
- Ministers present the funding as backing for about 5,000 skilled UK jobs across more than 50 suppliers including Saab UK and Leonardo UK and as support for Britain’s defence industrial base.
- Practical next steps include contract awards, manufacturing schedules, export approvals and delivery timetables, all of which will determine when the aircraft enter Ukrainian service and how they are integrated into its force structure.