Ukraine has signed a letter of intent to buy 20 Gripen E jets from Sweden. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the plans during a visit to Uppsala.
Sweden will also donate 16 Gripen jets to Ukraine with first deliveries early next year. Kyiv plans to buy up to 150 aircraft in total and will use a 90 billion euro loan from the EU for financing.
Saab CEO Micael Johansson said the company will double production pace in Linköping from 15 to about 30 aircraft per year. He did not rule out future assembly in Ukraine or Canada.
Social Democrats leader Magdalena Andersson voiced support for the decision and called it a good move that Ukraine needs.
