Sweden will deploy Gripen fighter jets to Poland from October to support NATO air and missile defence and protect a logistics hub in the country’s southeast used for military and civilian aid to Ukraine. The mission comes as Poland prepares to relax its air-defence rules at the start of the month, allowing faster engagement decisions in response to airborne threats.
The Swedish government linked the deployment to a serious security situation and repeated violations of NATO airspace. Defence Minister Pål Jonson described Poland as a close ally and a key hub for support to Ukraine. The aircraft are produced by Saab and will mainly operate from Sweden, with a smaller forward presence in Poland.
This is Sweden’s second fighter contribution to the Poland mission after joining NATO in 2024. Swedish Gripens previously took part in the same airspace surveillance effort in 2025. The deployment underlines the growing operational use of the type in NATO air-policing and air-defence duties along the alliance’s eastern flank.