Sweden considers gifting Gripen combat jet to Ukraine - The Nordic Reporter

The Swedish government has given the armed forces the order to investigate the pros and cons of the delivery of indigenous made multi-role fighters: the Saab JAS 39C/D Gripen to Ukraine.

It comes after the government has already sent weapons and ammunition shipments worth more than EUR 2 billion since February last year. At the end of that month Putin’s Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

If the green light for the Gripen will be given, the aircraft will likely have to come from the current active fleet of the Swedish Air Force, which officially operates 88 Gripen C/D and has ordered 60 newer, more capable E/F versions. The move may subsequently lead to ordering more E/F versions for the Swedish Air Force.

Military experts in Sweden do warn that if Ukrainian Gripen jets fall in Russian hands, it could undermine state security of Sweden. Russia would then get valuable insight in the fighter jets made in Linköping, some fear. | © 2023 Marcel Burger, nordicreporter.com (text and photo)

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