More optimal than F-35: Air Force explains why Gripen becomes priority for Ukraine
Photo: Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter jet (wikimedia.org)
Swedish Gripen fighter jets are an optimal choice for Ukraine, as in some aspects they outperform American F-35s. Ukraine has long considered Swedish aircraft for its needs, states Yurii Ihnat, Head of Communications for the Air Force, during a national telethon live broadcast.
"Gripen was included in our vision to 2035; even back in the 2000s, the military leadership understood this. It’s a very complicated process, and we shortened it," he said.
According to Ignat, Ukrainian pilots have already mastered the Gripen. They traveled to Sweden specifically and conducted familiarization flights on the fighter.
Moreover, this aircraft suits Ukraine not only in terms of crew training but also economically and tactically. Economically, the aircraft itself is fairly cheap (compared with American ones, for example), and its maintenance is also inexpensive.
"It’s one of the cheapest models. It’s not too expensive, especially in maintenance. There’s a metric called flight hour. How much does a Gripen flight hour cost versus an F‑35? The difference is orders of magnitude," Ignat said.
Tactically, the Gripen is suitable because it can operate from field airstrips prepared in Ukraine. The aircraft is capable of landing and taking off not only from paved roads but also from dirt strips.
"Today we have dozens of airfields across the country that we use as dispersal airstrips: dirt runways, sections of highways where a plane can land, refuel, take on weapons, and then go on to bomb our enemy. This aircraft, with its large wheels and high landing gear, could enable us to have a varied air force for both air defense and strikes against ground targets," Ihnat concluded.
Gripen for Ukraine: What we know
On October 22, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Sweden will sell Ukraine 120–150 modern Saab JAS 39 Gripen E fighter jets. This is a long-term contract: production of this model has only just begun, and the first deliveries, according to Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, are possible in three years.
According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s choice was driven by the fact that Swedish fighters are among the best in the world. In addition, the "Griffins" (Gripen means Griffin in Swedish) fit well into the structure and vision of the Ukrainian Air Force.
Sweden began training Ukrainian pilots on the Gripen back in 2023. Next year, the Swedish parliament approved the delivery of Gripens to Ukraine; however, by May 28, 2024, it became known that Western countries had asked Stockholm to "wait." At that time, the main focus was on the introduction of American-made F-16 fighter jets into service.
