Sweden has announced its first-ever out-of-country air defense deployment, with Saab Gripen combat aircraft set to be stationed in Poland in support of NATO operations.
The deployment, unveiled by Swedish Minister of Defense Pål Jonson on March 6, is a key step in Sweden’s commitment to collective defense following its accession to NATO.
As part of this mission, the Swedish Air Force (SwAF) will contribute Gripen fighters to two separate air-defense initiatives in Poland.
One of these missions involves safeguarding NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU), an operation designed to ensure military and civilian support continues to reach Ukraine.
“Today, we have presented a proposal to parliament that Sweden should send up to eight Gripen[s] to protect the airspace over NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU). They would act in a NATO air-defense mission to protect military and civilian support to Ukraine,” Jonson stated.
Today Sweden is announcing that we plan to contribute with multiple JAS Gripen fighter jets to two NATO operations in Poland. They consist of protection of NATO logistical support to Ukraine & Air policing over Poland. We stand ready to protect our allies & friends. (1/5) pic.twitter.com/tGDJqsXYb1
— Pål Jonson (@PlJonson) March 6, 2025
Additionally, Sweden has been invited to contribute to NATO’s enhanced Air Policing (eAP) over Poland. This mission, scheduled to run from April to June 2025, will be the first time Swedish combat aircraft are deployed for NATO air policing from allied territory.
The Swedish Gripens will not operate alone. According to the announcement, the mission to secure NSATU and its key logistical hubs along NATO’s eastern flank will also involve airborne and maritime surveillance, as well as airborne transport capability.
This suggests the likely involvement of additional SwAF assets, including the Saab 340/ASC 890 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) Erieye, the S 102B Korpen intelligence-gathering aircraft, and the Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules transport aircraft.
Minister Jonson added, “Participating in Air policing will be another milestone in Sweden’s role as a NATO ally. As we approach the first anniversary of Sweden´s NATO accession tomorrow we are proud to be able to contribute more combat power to our allies. NATO makes us stronger and safer.”
Sweden’s decision to send its Gripens to Poland comes amid heightened NATO efforts to reinforce security along its eastern flank in response to ongoing concerns over Russian aggression. The deployment highlights Sweden’s growing role within NATO and its commitment to collective defense.
At the same time, Poland is set to contribute to NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, which ensures the security of Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian airspace—three NATO member states that do not have their own combat air forces. The Polish deployment will run from mid-March to mid-July.
It is pertinent to note that for over 200 years, Sweden pursued a policy of non-alignment, aiming to remain neutral in conflicts and avoid military alliances, a tradition rooted in the “Policy of 1812”. However, in March 2024, Sweden joined NATO, marking a significant shift in its foreign and security policy.
Sweden’s Potential Gripen Jet Transfer To Ukraine
This development follows discussions about the possibility of Sweden supplying Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine. Saab’s CEO, Micael Johansson, recently conveyed optimism that Sweden might approve the transfer of JAS 39 Gripen jets to Ukraine, a move that could significantly enhance the country’s air combat capabilities alongside the recently acquired American F-16s and French Mirage 2000s.
“Without jumping to conclusions [at a political level], I hope it will happen,” Johansson stated. He outlined a long-term vision in which Ukrainian pilots would commence training in Sweden, paving the way for the initial delivery of a squadron of C/D variant Gripen jets in the near future.
Johansson also suggested that Ukraine could eventually receive the more advanced Gripen E model, though he acknowledged that moving forward with such a plan would depend entirely on political decisions.
Swedish authorities, however, have remained cautious in their public statements. NATO allies had previously requested that Sweden hold off on supplying Gripens so that Ukrainian pilots could first concentrate on mastering the F-16, avoiding the logistical and operational challenges of transitioning between multiple aircraft types. Since then, France has provided Kyiv with a limited number of Mirage jets.
Ukraine’s Air Force has been gradually shifting from its Soviet-era MiG-29 and Su-27 fighter jets to Western aircraft to bolster its defense against Russian aggression.
Several NATO countries, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway, have pledged to supply around 80 F-16s collectively, while France has contributed Mirage aircraft.
Military analysts have advocated for Ukraine to receive Gripen fighters. A 2022 report by the UK’s Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) identified the Gripen as the most suitable Western-manufactured combat aircraft for Ukraine’s needs.
The report highlighted key operational advantages, such as reducing the country’s vulnerability to Russian long-range missile strikes and emphasizing similarities between Swedish and Ukrainian air combat tactics.
Sweden currently operates nearly 100 Gripen jets and plans to expand its fleet to 120 through upgrades and new acquisitions. While Brazil remains the only export customer for the advanced Gripen E model, the C/D variant is in service with the Czech Republic, Hungary, South Africa, and Thailand.
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