Saab delivers final Gripens to Hungary, signs Ukraine deal

Two new Gripen C fighters landed recently at Kecskemét Air Base, marking the completion of the deliveries under the contract amendment singed between The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and the Hungarian Ministry of Defence in January 2024. With these deliveries, Hungary will operate a total of 18 Gripen C/D (16 Gripen C and 2 Gripen D) aircrafts to protect and defend Hungarian and NATO airspace. The delivery of two additional aircraft will further strengthen the capabilities of the Air Force. “We are proud of the Hungarian Air Force, which has now operated Gripen fighters for 20 years. Thanks to the support and service contract, the Hungarian Gripen fleet will maintain high availability and be continuously upgraded to fulfill all mission requirements for at least a decade ahead,” says Lars Tossman, Senior Vice President and head of Saab business area Aeronautics. Saab signs contract for Gripen E for Ukraine Saab has signed a contract with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) for 16 Gripen E fighter aircraft for Ukraine. The order value corresponds to approximately SEK 24.6 billion and the order will be booked in the third quarter 2026. Saab’s deliveries to FMV are scheduled to take place 2029-2030. In addition to the 16 Gripen E fighter aircraft the contract also includes spare parts and associated items and equipment.  “I am deeply proud that Sweden and Saab can now enable the provision of Gripen E to Ukraine, bringing a world-class fighter that will transform the Ukrainian Air Force’s capability. This will significantly strengthen Ukraine’s air defence and help ensure the nation can protect its people and safeguard its future,” says Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab. Gripen is designed to address advanced threats in demanding environments.  Operational flexibility and resilience enable operations from short stretches, temporary runways or roads, supporting dispersed operations and high availability. The software-based architecture facilitates continuous upgrades and adaption to evolving operational requirements. With low maintenance requirements and fast turnaround, Gripen provides an advanced and cost-effective fighter capability that is easy to operate and maintain. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Group Sales Director Simon Hadfield at [email protected]