By Dominic Chopping
STOCKHOLM--Saab signed a contract to deliver 16 Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine in a deal worth around $2.5 billion, part of an agreement previously announced by Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The two leaders met in Sweden in May when they announced a major new defense agreement that included Ukraine buying up to 20 of the jets, with Sweden donating a further 16 older models from its current fleet.
In an announcement late Tuesday, Saab said it has now signed a 24.6 billion Swedish kronor ($2.54 billion) deal to provide 16 new jets with deliveries scheduled between 2029 and 2030.
In addition to the 16 aircraft, the contract also includes spare parts, related equipment and technical support.
The deal was signed in a meeting Tuesday between Zelensky and Swedish defense minister Pal Jonson.
A statement from the Ukraine presidential office said that training of Ukrainian pilots and technical personnel is already underway in Sweden, adding that Ukraine will receive the first donated older Gripen jets in early 2027.
Discussions over further strengthening Ukraine's combat aviation and air defense, including drone and missile defense, also took place at the meeting, according to the presidential office.
Write to Dominic Chopping at dominic.chopping@wsj.com