Two countries set to buy air defense systems for Ukraine
Photo: Tridon air defense systems (euro-sd.com.2)
Sweden and Denmark will jointly purchase air defense systems for Ukraine totaling 2.6 billion Swedish kronor ($290 million) to help repel Russian attacks, Reuters reports.
Read also: Germany to provide Ukraine with new IRIS-T air defense systems in near future – Ambassador
Sweden will contribute 2.1 billion kronor ($235.9 million) for Tridon air defense systems, developed by BAE Systems Bofors. Denmark will provide around 500 million kronor ($56.1 million).
"This means that Ukraine can develop an air defence battalion if they so wish. The purchase doesn't just support Ukraine on the battlefield with more material, but also strengthens our production capacity in Sweden," said Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson.
Reuters notes that both countries have supplied Ukraine with military and humanitarian aid since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Air defense support for Ukraine
Germany is set to deliver new IRIS-T air defense systems to Ukraine in the near future, with nine systems already received.
Alyona Getmanchuk, Head of Ukraine Mission to NATO, said Ukraine receives air defense equipment from the US, funded by the EU. Around 75% of missiles for Patriot systems come via the PURL program, while for other air defense systems, nearly 90% of interceptors arrive through the same scheme.
She added that Ukraine had to make significant diplomatic efforts to convince certain European countries to procure American weapons specifically for Ukraine’s needs.
Additionally, Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said after talks with his French counterpart Catherine Vautrin that Ukraine may soon receive a batch of French air defense missiles as well as Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets.
