Several states have asked Sweden not to rush into supplying Ukraine with JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft because Ukraine is focused on introducing F-16 aircraft.
Swedish Defense Minister Paul Jonson said this, as quoted by Aftonbladet.
Sweden was asked not to rush the delivery of Gripen to Ukraine
According to the Minister of Defense, other countries from the air defense coalition have asked Sweden to wait on the delivery of the Gripen system.
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He says the transfer of the Swedish Gripen is inconsistent with how the coalition views the introduction of two F-16 and Gripen systems at the same time.
— We in no way exclude that in the future this (supply of Gripen, — Ed.) may become relevant, but now the focus of attention of the Ukrainian side & #8212; implementation of the F-16 program, — Jonson said.
Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway promised to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighters. The first aircraft are expected to be delivered as early as 2024.
In December 2023, the speaker of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Yuriy Ignat, stated that Ukrainian pilots had already tested Swedish Gripen aircraft.
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström said in January that Stockholm does not exclude the scenario of transferring Gripen fighters to Ukraine.
