Sweden prepares the ground for Gripen jets to aid Ukraine
Sweden has quietly "set the stage" to transfer JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine. This is evident from the components included in one of the latest aid packages and a recent statement by Swedish Defence Minister Paul Johnson.
During a joint press conference with Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, held on 22 November this year, Paul Johnson stated that Sweden's plans regarding the future transfer of the JAS 39 Gripen to the Ukrainian Air Force are clearly linked to the "air coalition" plans of Western countries. This means that the current priority is the deployment of F-16 fighters in Ukraine, and later, the transfer of other aircraft can be addressed. Preparations for this, however, are already underway, as revealed by the Swedish Defence Minister.
JAS 39 Gripen for Ukraine is a matter of time
"The recent package included spare parts for 14 platforms [Gripen fighters - ed.]," Johnson said, referring to the aid package granted to Ukraine by the Swedish government in September this year.
The transfer of these components to Ukraine is part of "Stockholm's efforts to create conditions for possible future support in the form of JAS 39 Gripen fighters." The portal defenseromania notes that the situation can be interpreted in two ways. The transfer of components for 14 fighters may mean that Sweden is preparing to hand over that many planes from its inventory or simply can provide support for that number of machines, which could come to Ukraine from various countries.
However, this second scenario seems less likely. In Europe, only the Czech Republic and Hungary use the JAS 39 Gripen, but these countries operate only 14 units. Maintaining a fleet of this size seems to be a standard Swedish export practice, which will also affect Ukraine.
A valuable fighter for Ukraine
The JAS 39 Gripen is a single-engine fighter with delta wings and a canard configuration. It was developed by the Swedish company SAAB and enjoys a very good reputation. This aircraft, measuring about 14 metres in length, can reach speeds of up to 2,130 km/h and operate at altitudes of up to 18,000 metres.
Certain features of the JAS 39 Gripen make it seen as a fighter "tailored to Ukraine's needs." It can operate from improvised runways, such as a simple road section only a few hundred metres long, and its ground maintenance is simpler than that of the F-16. Additionally, the JAS 39 Gripen can carry various types of armaments, including AIM-9 Sidewinder, IRIS-T, AIM-120 AMRAAM, or AGM-65 Maverick missiles, Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missiles, and Mark 82 bombs, while remaining cheaper to operate than the F-16.
