Sweden is considering sending Gripen combat jets for Ukraine – Air Force spokesman
Photo: Saab
Sweden is considering providing Ukraine with Gripen fighter jets in addition to the F-16, as Ukrainian pilots have already tested them, the Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat says.
Meanwhile the F-16 jet would be the main combat aircraft to conduct aerial attacks on Russian positions and play the support role.
"Gripen is also being considered, and the Swedish side may transfer to Ukraine the amount it has today. We are not talking about the number. But the main combat aircraft is still the F-16. If a decision is made on the Gripen, it will be a good option for us," Ihnat said.
The spokesperson emphasized that Sweden is considering developing a newer version of Gripen fighters, which its air force will adopt. Ukraine will have the prospect of receiving these aircraft.
Ihnat also said that Ukrainian pilots have already tested Gripen fighters in Sweden.
"During the first visit to the Kingdom of Sweden, the Air Force Commander left specialists there during the meeting to investigate the possibility of providing Ukraine with these aircraft and conduct some familiarization flights to understand how it works and provide a full certificate – whether we can or cannot get this equipment," said the colonel.
Ihnat noted that Ukrainian pilots received not pilot training, but only testing of the aircraft.
The full-course training will begin only after the decision to transfer the Gripen aircraft is announced.
Ukraine-Sweden path
On December 5, Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov recently met with the Swedish Commander-in-Chief Mikael Büden.
The parties discussed the localization of defense production in Ukraine and the possibility of supplying the state's forces with Gripen fighter jets.
Büden said that the issue of transferring Gripen aircraft to Ukraine is being discussed at both the political and military operational levels.
Sweden is a member of an aviation coalition aimed at providing Ukraine with fighter jets. Earlier, Ukrainian pilots and ground personnel had the opportunity to test Gripen aircraft in Sweden.
At the end of May, the Swedish government allowed Ukrainian pilots to train on the JAS 39 Gripen fighter jet, able to train on simulators and conduct test flights.
The Swedish government also announced the allocation of €6.5 million to the UNESCO fund for the restoration and reconstruction of destroyed and damaged schools and kindergartens in Ukraine.
