Ukraine, Sweden negotiating Gripen supplies

Ukraine and Sweden are in talks on the potential supply of the Saab JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets to strengthen Ukraine’s air force capabilities.

Deputy Head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, Ihor Zhovkva, said this in an interview with the Voice of America, Ukrinform reports.

"This is a topic that my President constantly raises before the leadership of Sweden. And it had been the case even before Sweden joined NATO. For obvious reasons, they were not ready to make any promises at the time as they were finalizing their membership of the Alliance. Now the country is in NATO, and my President is again communicating with the Prime Minister of Sweden, and our Ministry of Defense is in contact with the relevant Swedish authorities. These fighter jets are as good as the F-16 and we are moving in that direction," Zhovkva said.

Earlier, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Tobias Billström, said Sweden did not supply fighter jets to Ukraine because Ukraine concluded it would be too difficult to deploy two fighter jet systems at the same time (F-16 and Gripen).

At the same time, according to the head of the Swedish Foreign Ministry, his country remains open to supplying these capabilities to Kyiv.

Sweden and the Swedish government have no restrictions on these discussions once the F-16s are deployed, but that decision was made by the Ukrainian government, not the Swedish one, the diplomat said.

According to U.S. Air Force Major General (retired) Charles Corcoran, Gripes have significant advantages.

“Gripen implies a much smaller crew, it can land anywhere, refuel quickly, and take off quickly. This is a much more challenging target for Russia," he said.

As reported by Ukrinform, on May 31 Billström stated Sweden may hand over its Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine after F-16 aircraft arrive.