Sweden will provide Ukraine with 16 JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets in the C/D configuration. The announcement was made during a joint press conference between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, held during the Prime Minister’s visit to the Uppland Air Wing base in Uppsala.
During the meeting, the two sides signed an official declaration on deepening defense cooperation. Under the agreements reached, the first aircraft are expected to arrive in Ukraine in early 2027. Financing for this initial batch will be provided through a loan granted by the European Union, as previously reported by the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet.
At the same time, the leaders announced the launch of a broader cooperation program under which Ukraine will purchase an additional 22 Gripen E aircraft from Sweden. Deliveries of this second batch are expected to be completed by 2030.
In terms of technical characteristics, the JAS 39 Gripen is a lightweight single-engine multirole fourth-generation fighter developed by Saab. The aircraft features a distinctive canard aerodynamic configuration with forward horizontal control surfaces, providing high maneuverability and enabling takeoff and landing on short runways, including prepared road sections.
The C/D variants are powered by the Volvo RM12 turbofan engine, equipped with the PS-05/A integrated radar system, and capable of carrying a broad range of air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons. The more advanced Gripen E version incorporates the more powerful General Electric F414 engine, an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, and an extended operational range.
Read also: Saab JAS 39 Gripen as an Option for the Ukrainian Air Force: Understanding This Aircraft
As a reminder, today, May 28, Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Sweden and, together with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, visited the Uppland Air Wing base located in Uppsala. It was during this visit that the press conference took place, where the official announcement concerning international cooperation in the field of military aviation was made.
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Source: swedenherald
