Swedish Prime Minister: No Gripens For Ukraine In The Short Term
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Monday that it was unlikely for Sweden to supply Gripen fighter aircraft to Ukraine for the time being, as Sweden needed them for their own defense.
In an appearance on the TV4 television channel, Kristersson said that slow progress on Sweden’s entry to NATO required a “balancing act” on what could be delivered to Ukraine and what was needed to ensure Sweden could still defend itself. “We will do everything we can to support Ukraine, even with aircraft”, said Kristersson. “But right now there are no new commitments to provide Swedish aircraft to Ukraine.”
Kristersson’s comments come after a visit to Sweden by Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelensky where Zelensky urged Kristersson to supply Gripens to Ukraine. “We do not have superiority in the sky. We do not have modern aircraft. And the Swedish Gripen is the pride of your state. And I believe the Prime Minister could share such pride with Ukraine”, said Zelensky in a press conference after the August 19 meeting.
After his visit to Sweden, Zelensky traveled to the Netherlands and Denmark, with both countries pledging to supply up to 61 F-16 fighter aircraft once an initial batch of Ukrainian pilots and support crew complete training.
The Ukrainian Air Force claimed last week that its pilots are conducting initial training on the Gripen, after Stockholm announced in June that it would facilitate such training as part of its military aid for Kyiv. At the time, Swedish defense minister Pål Jonson said that allowing training did not represent a commitment to eventually deliver Gripens.
While Gripen manufacturer Saab has 10 partially completed single-seat Gripen Cs and four twin-seat Gripen Ds in storage, they would require further assembly to be ready for delivery to any client. Additionally, the Philippines has expressed interest in the incomplete aircraft. Saab’s bid for the Philippines Air Force’s Multi Role Fighter project offers 12 of the aircraft, with the company claiming that an initial four Gripens can be delivered within a year of contract signing.