The main fighters of Sweden, the Gripen in the C/D version, will undergo modernization aimed at expanding the range of armaments and updating certain systems, as reported by the company Saab, which will carry out these works under a contract worth approximately $42 million.
Modern air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles will be integrated under the wings of the Swedish Gripen, although no specific details about the weapons in question have been provided.
Nevertheless, the Gripen C/D already possesses a fairly extensive array of armaments for engaging both ground and aerial targets. An official brochure from Saab regarding the Gripen C/D arsenal showcases a significant variety of weaponry, including the most long-range Western air-to-air missile, the Meteor from MBDA, which German Eurofighters launched for the first time just a week ago, as well as Taurus cruise missiles. Therefore, it is quite challenging to determine exactly which new weapons are being referred to.
Saab also announced a contract for supplying the Swedish Armed Forces with RBS15 Mk3 anti-ship missiles. The total value is $72 million, with deliveries set to begin in 2026.
The subsonic RBS15 Mk3 anti-ship missile features an extended range of 200 km, significantly surpassing the capabilities of earlier versions, which had a range of 70 km. The new version also incorporates a new navigation system and an updated radar homing head. The weight of the warhead is 200 kg.
Ukraine Awaits the Transfer of Gripen Fighters: What We Know
As reported by UNIAN, discussions about a potential transfer of Swedish fighters to Ukraine have been ongoing for quite some time, but for a long period, there was a lack of specifics. However, at the end of November, news emerged that Sweden provided Ukraine with spare parts for 14 Gripen fighters. While the aircraft themselves have not yet been delivered, it is unlikely that anyone would supply spare parts without planning to provide the aircraft soon.
At the same time, there is an opinion among experts that NATO has "held back" the delivery of Swedish aircraft to Ukraine to avoid diluting Ukrainian efforts in supporting infrastructure for three different types of aircraft. Ukraine already has F-16s, and soon Mirage 2000-5s will arrive as well. The addition of a third type of aircraft could bring more headaches than benefits.