Sweden to send Gripens to Poland in first out-of-country NATO deployment

Sweden is to deploy Gripen combat aircraft to two separate NATO missions in Poland, the country's defence minister has said. (Saab)

Sweden is to send Saab Gripen combat aircraft to Poland in its first out-of-country air-defence deployment in support of NATO.

Announced by Swedish Minister of Defence Pål Jonson on 6 March, the deployment will see the Swedish Air Force (SwAF) contribute Gripens to cover two separate air-defence missions in Poland.

“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-defence mission to protect military and civilian support to Ukraine. Sweden has received an invitation from NATO to contribute to this operation,” Jonson said, adding separately, “Sweden has also received an invitation from NATO to contribute to enhanced Air Policing [eAP] over Poland, which Sweden will do from April to June 2025. This will be the first time Swedish combat aircraft will participate in [NATO] Air Policing from an allied territory.”

As noted in the announcement, the mission to cover the NSATU and its undisclosed key logistical hubs across the alliance's eastern flank will also comprise airborne and maritime surveillance and airborne transport capability. For the SwAF, this will likely mean contributing Saab 340/ASC 890 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) Erieye, S 102B Korpen intelligence-gathering, and Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules aircraft in support of the Gripens.

For more information on the SwAF and NATO, please seeSwedish Gripens intercept first Russian aircraft since joining NATO .