Swedish AWACS are real 'game-changer' for Ukraine — military expert Zgurets

Defense Express CEO Serhiy Zgurets stated this on Espreso TV.

"Information about receiving Gripen aircraft appears from time to time. The impetus for discussions now was an interview with Deputy Defense Minister Ivan Havryliuk, where he talked about the spectrum of aircraft we will be receiving. We know about the F-16 and Mirage, and he mentioned Gripen again. It is a single-engine light fighter. If we receive it, then the process of preparing for the use of these light fighters is probably already underway," noted Zgurets.

The Defense Express director also emphasized that he is looking forward not so much to the Gripen fighters from Sweden as to the AWACS long-range radar detection aircraft, which will significantly increase the effectiveness of the Ukrainian air defense system.

"I think that our crews should be preparing for them first and foremost, because these aircraft, which were promised a few years ago, I think, should also arrive in the near future along with the Gripen. This will strengthen our capabilities to detect and destroy enemy targets," Zgurets added.

• Manhattan University professor Igor Aizenberg believes that General Keith Kellogg was talking about strikes with ATACMS missiles deep into Russia, not sea-based Tomahawk missiles. As of today, the U.S. has only two ground-based launchers for Tomahawk missiles in service.