Sweden to provide Ukraine with Gripen jets and advanced Meteor missiles

Sweden is set to supply Ukraine with Gripen fighter jets and advanced Meteor missiles, marking a significant boost to Ukraine's air capabilities. The first Gripen C/D aircraft are slated for delivery in 2027, with training for Ukrainian pilots and technical staff already underway.

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The Meteor missile's most important advantage is its so-called ramjet engine, which, unlike traditional missiles, ensures thrust throughout the entire flight phase.

The Meteor missile, a product of European collaboration, is a formidable weapon. Weighing over 190 kilograms, it travels at speeds exceeding Mach 4 and can reach targets up to 200 kilometers away. Its key advantage lies in its ramjet engine, which provides continuous thrust throughout its flight, unlike traditional missiles. This allows the Meteor to maintain high speed and maneuverability even near the target, greatly increasing the probability of a successful hit. Experts highlight its "no-escape zone" capability, meaning targets within a 60-kilometer radius have virtually no chance of evading it.

A primary role for the Meteor missile will be to counter Russian guided aerial bombs, which Russian Su-34 bombers frequently deploy from relatively safe distances behind the front lines. The Meteor's range theoretically allows it to intercept these bombers before they can release their payloads, potentially neutralizing a significant advantage for the Russian air force. The effectiveness of these systems could be further enhanced by Swedish-provided Saab 340 AEW&C airborne early warning and control aircraft, which can detect enemy targets from afar and relay data to the Gripens, enabling missile launches even in radio silence.

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If an aircraft enters the missile's crosshairs within this zone, it practically has no chance of evading it.

Ukraine has the potential to acquire up to 150 Gripen fighter jets in the long term through European loan financing. The initial package may include 20 new Gripen E/F models, while Sweden will donate 16 of its older Gripen C/D aircraft. However, Saab's production capacity is limited to about 15-20 aircraft per year, meaning the full program could extend beyond a decade.

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One of the main tasks of the Meteor could be to make it difficult to deploy the guided aerial bombs widely used by the Russian Air Force.