Absolutely agreed!
Combat experience is one of the most valuable sales assets a fighter manufacturer can have. It can be simulated but highly inaccurately at best. A Gripen that has operated in contested airspace, handled electronic warfare pressure, and maintained availability under real combat stress becomes a different product in later export campaigns. Saab has not had that proof point before. Ukraine could change that.
The Gripen E/F would give Saab real performance data across modern air combat, from drone interception to air defense suppression, which its engineering teams could turn into software updates, tactical improvements and documented capability claims. The C/D variants also matter, since they should reach Ukraine earlier and provide battlefield feedback before the E/F fleet is fully delivered. Every Gripen flight hour in Ukraine would strengthen the empirical case Saab can bring to future campaigns, whether in the Philippines, Argentina or the next open competition. In that sense, the Ukrainian program is not just a customer relationship. It is a live operational lab of significant value for future Gripen sales.
Press release: https://www.inderes.se/releases/saab-ukraine-and-sweden-take-steps-towards-ukrainian-gripen-acquisition