The head of the Swedish company Saab believes in the supply of JAS 39 Gripen aircraft to Ukraine
The CEO of Swedish defence company Saab, Mikael Johansson, expressed optimism about the possible supply of JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine, although this process remains at the level of political discussions.
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The issue of the Gripen delivery was first raised in 2023, but so far it has not gone beyond discussions. Johansson, commenting on the situation during the Munich Security Conference, said he hoped for a positive decision and was in favour of a long-term agreement.
Saab believes that such an agreement should include training for Ukrainian pilots and technicians in Sweden. This opens up the possibility of supplying 12-14 second-hand Gripen C/Ds, which currently form the backbone of the Swedish air force. After that, the delivery of new Gripen E/F fighters, which are currently being produced in Sweden and Brazil, could be considered.
JAS 39 Gripen. Illustration: Wikipedia
Sweden plans to operate the Gripen E until the 2060s, making it a promising option for long-term security programmes.
At the same time, changes in US policy towards European security may affect the choice of weapons for countries in the region, in particular in favour of European models. However, the production and export of the Gripen is heavily dependent on the United States due to the use of American components, including engines.
Source: Breaking Defence
