New NATO member Sweden has mentioned it’s keen to promote Ukraine as much as 150 of its most advanced fighter jets, the primary supply from a member of the alliance to provide vital numbers of jets to Kyiv, which is looking for to improve its small and ageing air drive.
The deal signed on Wednesday by Volodymyr Zelensky and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is a letter of understanding, which means actual phrases, prices and supply dates for 100 to 150 Saab Gripen-E jets are but to be decided.
But each leaders mentioned it has the potential to be a sport changer, not just for Ukraine – which desperately wants extra air fight capabilities in its struggle in opposition to Russia – however for NATO and European safety total.
“We are opening an entirely new and truly meaningful chapter in our relations — relations between Ukraine and Sweden, and more broadly, overall security relations in Europe,” Zelensky in a publish on X.
“These are very cool planes, powerful aviation platforms that allow for performing a wide range of tasks,” Zelensky mentioned.
“This will strengthen both Ukraine, Sweden and Europe,” Kristersson mentioned in a press release.
Sweden joined NATO in 2024 together with its Nordic neighbor Finland. Their accession to the alliance – which ended longstanding insurance policies of non-alignment – was spurred by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Fighter jets have been a important want for Ukraine since Russia’s February 2022 invasion of its neighbor. At the time, Ukraine’s air drive consisted largely of Soviet-era plane. While Western international locations have come to Kyiv’s help with older US-made F-16 fashions in addition to a handful of French Mirages, these haven’t been sufficient to counter Russian air superiority.
But the Gripen-E is taken into account by consultants to be well-suited to working situations in Ukraine.
Gripen fighters have the popularity of being comparatively low-cost and simple to take care of and arm, and capable of function in austere situations – utilizing roads and even grime roads for runways.
While the primary model of the jet dates to the late Nineteen Eighties, the E mannequin simply entered service with the Swedish Air Force earlier this month.
Gripen-E fashions have so many upgrades that they’re “in many respects a new aircraft type,” with new radar and communication methods, higher sensors and the power to deploy new weapons, the Swedish Armed Forces mentioned in a launch on the time.
Manufacturer Saab calls the single-engine Gripen-E “the game changer” with the power to community sensors and coordinate missile launches among the many fleet. At the identical time, the jets have embedded AI functionality, Saab says.
Each jet has 10 “hard points” to connect missiles that may strike different air and floor targets.
The Gripen-E will likely be acquainted to pilots who’ve flown earlier fashions, it mentioned.
That could develop into essential as Ukrainian pilots have examined and educated on older Gripen jets and simulators, the communications chief for Ukraine’s air drive mentioned Wednesday in a report from RBC-Ukraine.
With that coaching, some observers have raised the opportunity of Ukraine getting older Gripen fashions to tide them over till the E fashions arrive in about three years.
Still, Zelensky instructed a press convention in Sweden that he hoped his nation could obtain and begin utilizing the Gripens subsequent yr.
“For our army, Gripens are a priority,” he mentioned, according to Reuters.
If the deal is accomplished with 150 jets finally going to Ukraine, Kyiv could develop into the highest operator of the Gripen-E worldwide.
Besides Sweden, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Hungary, South Africa and Thailand fly Gripens.
Wednesday’s announcement got here simply days after Zelensky’s try to safe long-range Tomahawk missiles to make use of in strikes deep into Russia was rebuffed by US President Donald Trump.
Trump mentioned Wednesday that one of many causes he denied Zelensky’s request is that Tomahawks require an extended coaching interval.
“The problem with the Tomahawk that a lot of people don’t know, it’ll take a minimum of six months, usually a year, to learn how to use them. They’re highly complex,” Trump mentioned.