Sweden to Explore the Possibility of Providing Ukraine with Gripen Fighter Jets

The Swedish government will soon task its Armed Forces with assessing the feasibility of transferring Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine, as reported by Ekot radio.

It is noted that the government seeks to gather information on how supplying aircraft to Ukraine would impact Sweden's defense capabilities and how quickly the country could obtain new Gripens as compensation.

Additionally, the government must determine the training process for Ukrainian pilots and other ground personnel for these aircraft.

The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a multi-role fourth-generation fighter jet designed for versatility. While formally categorized as a fighter, it was conceived as a multi-role aircraft capable of performing various missions.

At the end of May, the Swedish government approved Ukrainian pilots' training on JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets. They will have the opportunity to engage in simulator training and conduct test flights.

The Office of the President stated that the transfer of Swedish Gripens to Ukraine would require coordination with other countries, as is the case with the supply of F-16s.

Subsequently, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated that the country requires aircraft for its own defense, as its application for Alliance membership has not yet been finalized. However, he did not rule out the possibility of supplying Gripens to Ukraine in the future.

As previously reported by The Gaze, the Netherlands and Denmark committed to supplying Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets "after meeting the conditions for such transfers," according to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. The parties agreed on the transfer of 42 F-16 aircraft.

Furthermore, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen confirmed the U.S. approval for supplying F-16s to Ukraine after pilot training is completed. Copenhagen sent a request to Washington regarding the delivery of aircraft to Kyiv and received a "friendly response."

The approval from the United States for the delivery of F-16s to Ukraine is considered crucial for the Ukrainian military's ability to defend against Russian aggression.

Ukraine has repeatedly expressed the need for modern fighter jets and recently initiated a long-awaited counteroffensive against overwhelming Russian forces without air cover, which is an exceptionally challenging and risky task.