Effective weapon to combat KABs under one condition - what Meteor missiles, which Ukraine will receive from Sweden together with Gripen fighter jets, can do

Ukraine expects to receive the first batch of Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets, along with long-range Meteor air-to-air missiles, within the next 10 months. This will significantly strengthen the Air Forces and provide Ukraine with greater capabilities to counter russian aircraft and guided aerial bombs (KABs).

It was reported by the Ministry of Defense, according to the Ukrainian News agency.

The Ukrainian News agency analyzed information from open sources regarding this missile and the validity of the advantages described by the Ministry of Defense. The Meteor is manufactured by MBDA, a European leader in missile systems headquartered in France and a joint venture between Airbus (37.5%), the British company BAE Systems (37.5%), and the Italian company Leonardo S.p.A. (25%).

MBDA’s development partners were Bayern-Chemie/Protac (Germany), Inmize Sistemas SL (Spain), and Saab Bofors Dynamics (Sweden). This weapon has become a crucial counterpart to American air-to-air missiles for European security, which were previously the only option for European fighter jets.

Advantages of the Meteor compared to the American AIM-120

The Meteor missile (air intakes are highlighted in red; more on them below)

Prior to the purchase of the Swedish Gripen, the longest-range air-to-air missile available to Ukraine was the American AIM-120 AMRAAM on F-16 aircraft. It has a range of 50 to 180 km, depending on the variant, and is considered a medium-range missile. Recall that the flight range of basic russian guided aerial bombs (KABs) is up to 80 km in the base version, but in new models with a jet engine, it increases to 150 km. Additionally, the aircraft launching this bomb can be covered by fighter jets capable of carrying R-37M air-to-air missiles (maximum range up to 300 km) or the medium-range R-77-1 with a range of 110 km (This is a response to the American AIM-120.) In such a situation, Ukrainian fighter jets could not seriously interfere with the launch of guided bombs without a significant risk of being shot down.

The Meteor is considered a long-range missile with a manufacturer-stated range of “over 100 km.” Moreover, experts note that this range could reach up to 200 km, allowing it to engage the enemy much more effectively. The main difference between the Meteor and the AIM-120 lies in the propulsion system. The Americans use a classic solid-fuel engine. The Europeans, however, have additionally integrated a direct-flow air-breathing engine into the system. It cannot operate without air, but it helps the missile significantly improve its flight characteristics, namely speed and maneuverability, because through the flexible use of air intakes via software, the missile can very flexibly change speed and maneuver, maintaining extremely high speed right up to the moment of target engagement. Plus, the pilot can manually change the rocket’s targets in flight after launch. All these characteristics create a “No Escape Zone” for the enemy extending over 60 km; that is, within this range, the target can no longer evade the rocket’s strike through maneuvering.

A prerequisite for the Meteor’s effective operation

Thus, the Meteor can create significant problems for russian aviation and reduce the pressure of guided bombs on Ukrainian positions. However, for the effective use of long-range aviation, reconnaissance aircraft—that is, specialized long-range radar detection systems (LRRD)—are required. It is these systems that can provide automated target designation for the Gripen. This is because, to launch a missile, one must first see the target, and the capabilities of the onboard radar may be insufficient for this, especially since its operation is a significant factor in revealing one’s position. Back in 2024, it was publicly announced that Sweden would transfer two such Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft to Ukraine. And in the fall of 2025, Denys Shmyhal thanked the Swedish side for them. In other words, it is possible that they have already been delivered, or will be delivered, by 2027, at the beginning of which we are supposed to receive these first 16 Gripens. And that they will be sufficient, or we will receive additional similar technologies, because otherwise Meteor will not operate at full capacity.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, the Office of the President previously announced that Ukraine will purchase 20 Gripen E/F fighters from Sweden for EUR 2.5 billion using a loan from the European Union under the Ukraine Support Loan program, as soon as Ukraine takes the necessary steps to finalize this purchase, Sweden also intends to transfer 16 Gripen C/D fighters as part of bilateral aid.

In October 2025, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine expects to receive the first Swedish Gripen fighter jets as early as 2026.

Ukraine and Sweden intend to sign a contract for the production and delivery to Kyiv of 100 to 150 fourth-generation JAS 39 Gripen multi-role fighter jets.

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