Sweden will deploy Gripen fighter jets to Poland from October to support NATO airspace surveillance and protect a logistics hub in the country’s south-east used for aid to Ukraine. The aircraft will contribute to NATO’s integrated air and missile defence on the alliance’s eastern flank, with most of the operation based in Sweden and a smaller forward presence in Poland.
Defence Minister Pål Jonson linked the move to the “serious security situation” and repeated violations of NATO airspace. Sweden did not disclose the number of aircraft or the duration of the deployment.
The mission is Sweden’s second fighter contribution to the same air defence task in Poland. Swedish Gripens were also used in a similar role in 2025, shortly after the country joined NATO in 2024. The deployment adds another layer of protection to the Rzeszów area, a key corridor for military and civilian support moving into Ukraine.