The Swedish government announced on September 30, 2026 that JAS 39 Gripen fighters would begin supporting a NATO air-defense mission in Poland on October 1. The task includes protecting a logistics hub in southeastern Poland used to move military and civilian assistance to Ukraine.
The Gripens will contribute to NATO's integrated air and missile defense. Most aircraft and personnel will remain based in Sweden, supported by a smaller forward operating location in Poland.
The government announcement did not disclose the number of aircraft, so no fixed deployment strength can be inferred. It describes a NATO air-defense contribution and does not state that Swedish fighters will conduct combat missions inside Ukrainian airspace.
