Sweden considers Gripen aircraft, tested by Ukrainian pilots, for Ukraine - Ihnat

Yuriy Ihnat, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, shared the information on the United News telethon.

"The main combat aircraft will be the F-16. Gripen is also being considered, and the Swedish side may transfer to Ukraine the number of Gripens it has today. We are not talking about the number. But the F-16 remains the main combat aircraft. If a decision is made on the Gripen, it will be a good option for us," he said.

According to him, Sweden is planning to develop an updated version of the Gripen for its air force, so Ukraine will have a chance to get the previous model.

Ukrainian pilots have already tested Gripen fighter jets in Sweden, Ihnat added.

"During the first visit to the Kingdom of Sweden, the Air Force Commander left specialists there when the meeting was actually taking place to investigate the possibility of providing Ukraine with these aircraft and conduct some familiarization flights on these aircraft to understand how it works and provide a full certificate - whether we can or cannot receive this equipment," he said, noting that it was not pilot training, as military training will begin only if the transfer of Gripen aircraft is announced. Consultations are still ongoing.

• Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi said the F-16 multi-role fighter jets that Ukraine would receive next year would be less useful than they could have been. Russia has strengthened its air defense.