Ukraine and Sweden could sign Gripen fighter jet deal this year
Illustrative photo: Gripen fighter jet (Getty Images)
An agreement for Ukraine to purchase JAS 39 Gripen E fighter jets produced by Saab could be signed within the next few months, stated Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, according to Reuters.
Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson said that the negotiations are going well and did not rule out a Gripen agreement being finalized this year.
Since the first deliveries are expected to take place only about three years after the deal is signed, the aircraft are viewed as a priority for Ukraine’s postwar fighter fleet. At the same time, questions remain regarding financing for the purchase.
Financing the agreement
"We have our plan how to finance it. I think in a few months it will be good news for your country, for our country and bad news for Russians," Fedorov said.
Jonson told Reuters that part of the 80 billion Swedish kronor ($8.7 billion) allocated for aid to Ukraine this year and next year could potentially be used to finance the agreement.
"We are also talking to other countries about what they can possibly contribute. It could be, for example, training or weapons systems," he added.
What is known about the Gripen fighter jet
The Gripen E (Saab JAS 39E) is a modern multirole fighter jet designed to carry out missions in the air, on land, and at sea. It is capable of both intercepting targets and delivering precision strikes.
Its electronic warfare systems and the advanced AESA Raven ES-05 radar allow the Gripen E to effectively counter enemy fighter aircraft and air defense systems.
The Swedish-made jet can also launch Western-made Meteor air-to-air missiles with a range of more than 100 kilometers, giving it an advantage over most Russian aircraft.
Last year, during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Sweden, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced that the two sides had signed a declaration of intent regarding the sale of 100 to 150 modern Gripen E fighter jets to Kyiv.
Later, in November, Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron signed a declaration of intent aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s aviation and air defense capabilities. The document included the possibility of future contracts for approximately 100 French-made Rafale fighter jets for Ukraine.
