Key Points – The Swedish Air Force (Flygvapnet) has significantly increased its presence in Poland by deploying an additional six JAS39 Gripen C fighter jets to Malbork Air Base.
-Announced on May 26, 2025, this contingent from the Blekinge Air Flotilla (F 17 Wing) is tasked with reinforcing NATO’s air defense capabilities, specifically to protect a critical logistics hub in southeastern Poland that facilitates military and civilian aid to Ukraine.
-This strategic move coincided with the departure of the Netherlands’ final F-16s, which were routed through Belgium en route to Ukraine.
Expanding Sweden’s NATO Contribution with JAS 39
This new deployment is distinct from the ongoing mission of the Norrbotten Wing (F 21), which has maintained a presence of six Gripens at Malbork since March 26, 2025. The F 21 deployment marked Sweden’s inaugural Enhanced Air Policing (EAP) mission since joining NATO and was initially slated for a two-month duration.
While the Swedish Armed Forces (Forsvarsmakten) have not yet clarified if the F 21’s mission will be extended, they have stated that the new F 17 operation falls under the framework of NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD).
Malbork Air Base has become a multinational hub, also hosting Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoons from RAF Lossiemouth’s IInd Army Cooperation Squadron under “Operation Chessman,” alongside the Polish Air Force’s 22nd Tactical Air Base, which operates MiG-29 fighters.
During its EAP duties, the initial Swedish Gripen detachment conducted its first NATO air policing scramble on April 24, 2025, successfully intercepting a Russian Air Force Ilyushin Il-20M surveillance aircraft over the Baltic Sea.
Doubling Down: More Swedish Gripens on Polish Soil
The arrival of the latest Flygvapnet contingent brings the total number of Swedish Gripen fighters in Poland to twelve, at least for the time being. The Forsvarsmakten’s announcement did not specify the duration of this new deployment or the return date for the initial F 21 detachment.
Notably, one of the newly arrived Gripens was observed armed with two live Meteor Beyond Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (BVRAAMs) and IRIS-T short-range air-to-air missiles on its wingtips. Unlike the Gripens deployed in March, these aircraft do not appear to be equipped with the Litening targeting pod, which aids in visual identification during intercepts. The deployment includes approximately 120 ground personnel, primarily from the Blekinge Air Flotilla.
Protecting Critical Ukraine Support Lines
The Swedish military emphasized the strategic importance of this deployment, stating, “Poland shares a border with Ukraine and is an important hub for the logistics of equipment that NATO and partners use to support Ukraine in the war against Russia.”
This suggests a potential link between the increased air defense posture and significant weapons transfers to Ukraine, particularly as Russia has previously threatened to target NATO facilities involved in such operations. The Rzeszów-Jasionka airport in southeastern Poland has been a key transit point for military aid, prompting robust protective measures by Poland and NATO.
JAS 39 Gripen. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
JAS 39 Gripen. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
JAS 39 Gripen over a Road. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
While active combat missions supporting Ukraine are launched from within Ukrainian territory to avoid escalation, the enhanced Swedish presence could be related to the transfer of F-16s to Ukraine, possibly transiting through southeastern Poland, similar to previous Polish MiG-29 transfers.
Although direct Russian strikes on logistics convoys within NATO territory using long-range missiles like the Kh-101 or Kh-47M2 Kinzhal are considered unlikely, Moscow has previously targeted locations in western Ukraine near the Polish border.
Enhancing NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD)
Commander Christian Bertilsson, leading the Swedish contingent, highlighted the mission’s dual benefit: “We can contribute an important air defense capability to Poland. When we contribute to NATO’s collective deterrence and defense, of which the current air defense operation is a part, the Air Force also strengthens Sweden’s security.” The operation is formally subordinate to NATO Command within the IAMD framework.
While the EAP mission at Malbork primarily focuses on intercepting Russian aircraft over the Baltic, the IAMD role suggests a broader defensive posture. This could include countering Russian standoff missiles, with Gripens, armed with Meteor missiles, potentially guided by NATO E-3 AWACS aircraft or even the Saab 340B AEW&C aircraft that Sweden announced it would send to support Kyiv on May 29, 2024.
This reinforcement near the Jasionka logistics hub also comes roughly a month and a half after the U.S. announced a “planned repositioning of U.S. military equipment and personnel” in Poland on April 7, 2025. Some reports interpreted this as a reduction in U.S. presence, though officials disputed this characterization.
The increased Swedish commitment underscores NATO’s continued focus on securing its eastern flank and supporting Ukraine.
