British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged €300 million ($345 million) on Thursday during a diplomatic visit to Kyiv to help fund a full squadron of 16 Swedish-made Gripen E fighter jets for Ukraine. The joint announcement, delivered alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is designed to bolster Ukraine’s air defenses against ongoing Russian airstrikes and accelerate the modernization of its air force.
The UK funding directly supports a larger $2.5 billion procurement deal signed between Ukraine and Swedish defense manufacturer Saab, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2029. The extensive package includes comprehensive pilot and engineer training, flight simulators, and logistics support. This procurement runs parallel to a separate bilateral agreement under which Sweden will transfer 16 older Gripen C/D models to Ukraine as direct military assistance starting in early 2027.
Beyond military cooperation, the deal represents a significant economic initiative for the United Kingdom. Because British aerospace firms construct more than 30% of each Gripen aircraft, Downing Street confirmed the investment will secure and support roughly 5,000 high-skilled jobs across 50 UK-based companies, including Leonardo UK and Saab UK.
