Piroschka Van De Wouw/REUTERS
- Ukraine and Sweden signed a letter of intent to export up to 150 Gripen fighter jets to Kyiv.The development on Wednesday brings Ukraine closer to obtaining the fourth-generation JAS 39 Gripen.The fighter jet has long been considered the ideal aircraft for Ukraine to battle Russia.
Ukraine just got a lot closer to acquiring the Swedish-made Gripen, a much sought-after fighter jet built for war with Russia.
Ukraine and Sweden signed a letter of intent on Wednesday to export up to 150 JAS 39 Gripen E fighter jets to Kyiv, a major potential arms acquisition that would dramatically help modernize the country's air force.
The Ukrainian Air Force primarily operates a fleet of aging Soviet-designed aircraft, though it has gradually acquired Western fighters, including the American-made F-16 and the French Mirage.
The Gripen, manufactured by Swedish aerospace and defense giant Saab, is widely regarded as an ideal fighter jet for Ukraine. The jet is designed to operate from austere airstrips, requires minimal maintenance, and was built to fight and survive against Russian-style threats.
Given the demands of the war, including dispersed air operations, these jets could serve as a new backbone for Ukraine's rapidly changing air force.
Pål Jonson, Sweden's defense minister, said Ukraine has asked for 100-150 Gripens, specifically the E variant of the aircraft. Stockholm only recently received the first batch of these planes. These jets represent a new-generation upgrade with a range of higher-end capabilities, including electronic warfare, a more powerful engine, and increased weapons capacity.
The Gripen E is considered an advanced fourth-generation aircraft that would advance Ukraine's air force. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he expects to receive the first Gripens as early as next year.
Swedish Armed Forces
However, at an estimated $85 million apiece, funding for the fighter jets remains unclear. Sweden's defense ministry did not immediately respond to a request for additional information.
An ideal jet for Ukraine
The Gripen is considered an excellent fighter jet choice for Ukraine because it was designed for the type of fight against Russia that Kyiv is facing.
Sweden has long viewed Russia as a potential threat and designed the Gripen at the end of the Cold War, with Russia's highly maneuverable Sukhoi fighter aircraft regarded as its likely adversary.
The fighter jet was made for a war in which critical support infrastructure and runways are targeted, one in which disaggregation and dispersal are essential, just as they are in Ukraine.
Air warfare experts have said the Gripen is a better fit than other Western jets, like the F-16s and Mirages, that Ukraine received. It's far less readily available, but it offers clear advantages.
Michael Bohnert, an air warfare expert with RAND Corporation, previously told Business Insider that the Gripen "is a little more purpose-built" for Ukraine's needs.
For instance, the Gripen can more easily operate from civilian roadways if airfields and traditional runways are knocked out. These have been top targets for Russian missile and drone attacks.
Leonhard Foeger/REUTERS
Flexibility and the ability to keep jets on the move outside are necessary for the preservation of airpower. The US and other NATO allies have been pursuing these kinds of capabilities with highway takeoff and landing exercises and aircraft activities at austere locations.
Airpower and warfare experts at the UK's Royal United Services Institute wrote early on in the war that the Swedish Gripen "offers by far the most suitable candidate in terms of operational requirements" for Ukraine.
Wednesday's letter of intent is the first real movement toward actually acquiring the jets. Ukrainian pilots, however, have already been training on them in preparation. Integrating them into Ukraine's mix of Western and Soviet-designed jets will still represent a notable challenge though when the planes eventually arrive.
The Gripen offers not just combat capability, but also greater interoperability with NATO. "Sweden supports, and wants to contribute to a strong and modern Ukrainian air force," Jonson, the Swedish defense minister, said. "We have a good dialogue with Ukraine on how Gripen E could become a part of this force in coming years."
